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Mission Statement

The mission of the Division of Transit Services is to provide an effective mix of public transportation services in Montgomery County.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Division of Transit Services is $182,723,520, an increase of $9,773,199 or 5.65 percent from the FY23 Approved Budget of $172,950,321. Personnel Costs comprise 56.14 percent of the budget for 868 full-time position(s) and 16 part-time position(s), and a total of 898.61 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 43.86 percent of the FY24 budget.

Debt Service for general obligation bonds and other debt for the Mass Transit Fund is appropriated in the Debt Service Fund and is not displayed in this section. To pay for the Debt Service, a transfer of funds from the Mass Transit Fund to the Debt Service Fund of $29,954,120 is required.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

  • Thriving Youth and Families
  • A Greener County
  • Easier Commutes

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY23 estimates reflect funding based on the FY23 approved budget. The FY24 and FY25 figures are performance targets based on the FY24 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY25.

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Initiatives

  • Conduct a comprehensive study, Ride On Reimagined, to guide the future direction of the County's transit system through data analysis and community engagement. Work has been completed toward establishing goals, outcomes, and measures with a focus on three priority areas: Safety and Vision Zero; Environment and Climate Resiliency; and Economic Development and Equitable Access. Outreach events are occurring throughout the study's development. Beginning in 2023, Phase 2 of the project will focus on service concepts. County residents, transit passengers, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders will participate in the development of policy recommendations and implementation strategies by 2024.

  • Complete a zero-emission bus fleet transition study by summer 2023 to develop concrete strategies to reach zero-emissions by 2035. The study supports greenhouse gas reduction goals outlined in the County's Climate Action Plan and includes an evaluation of existing and future facilities and their relationship to the technology transition; the impact of the transition on the current workforce; and the availability of current and future resources to meet the costs for transition and implementation. The study will also develop a program of requirements for a new zero-emission bus operations and maintenance facility.

  • Transition to zero emission buses on the Bethesda Circulator service. Three gas-powered buses currently providing this service will be replaced by electric buses in coordination with the Bethesda Urban Partnership.
  • Maintain a reduction in every Call-n-Ride participant's monthly co-payment by $5.25 through financial support from the Transportation Services Improvement Fund. This co-pay subsidy has been supported in the past four years by a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments which is expiring in February 2024. New funding for this benefit will continue to provide affordable transportation for the lowest income residents.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • Successfully competed and obtained a Federal Lo/No emission grant to support the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell buses and the construction of a green hydrogen fueling site at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance Transit Operations Center in Gaithersburg. The Federal grant award will enable the replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen powered buses.

Program Descriptions

  Transit Services

Public transit plays a vital role in maintaining the livability of Montgomery County's growing communities, easing commutes for County residents, and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. The Transit Services program provides Ride On fixed-route bus service, the FLASH limited stop transit service, and the FLEX on demand zone-based service in...

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  Transit Services General Administration

The General Administration program provides executive direction and support functions for Transit Services programs that include Ride On operations and planning, human resources, information technology, budget/grant/fiscal management/procurement services, and special transportation programs to increase mobility and promote the economic growth and stability of the County. ...

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  Community Mobility Services

The Community Mobility Services program provides a wide range of transportation-related services and options for County residents and commuters. The program includes components to inform people about services available, enabling them to make the best choices for their needs; programs to reduce the cost of using those options; and programs...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Ken Sloate of the Division of Transit Services at 240.777.5808 or Gary Nalven of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2779 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY22
Budget
FY23
Estimate
FY23
Recommended
FY24
%Chg
Bud/Rec
MASS TRANSIT
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages62841984.0076346505.00 83293337.00 78020272.002.2
Employee Benefits18833631.0021198741.00 22150818.00 22925248.008.1
Mass Transit Personnel Costs81675615.0097545246.00 105444155.00 100945520.003.5
Operating Expenses67779258.0070178731.00 76724653.00 76549566.009.1
Capital Outlay0.00111500.00 111500.00 111500.000.0
Mass Transit Expenditures149454873.00167835477.00 182280308.00 177606586.005.8
PERSONNEL
Full-Time863.00854.00 854.00 853.00-0.1
Part-Time16.0032.00 32.00 16.00-50.0
FTEs895.77897.51 897.51 885.51-1.3
REVENUES
Property Tax110724175.00182853842.00 180953969.00 192048449.005.0
Taxi Licensing Fees59915.0080000.00 80000.00 80000.000.0
Bus Advertising795506.00700000.00 1660000.00 1710000.00144.3
Motor Pool Charges/Fees575064.000.00 393522.00 0.000.0
Other Charges/Fees2623469.002738805.00 2702722.00 2848906.004.0
Parking Fees886849.00828704.00 700000.00 828704.000.0
Ride On Fare Revenue37899.009825033.00 5373437.00 8571130.00-12.8
Other Fines/Forfeitures700.000.00 275.00 0.000.0
Parking Fines859023.00566335.00 850000.00 800000.0041.3
State Aid: Call N' Ride383414.00379107.00 379107.00 379107.000.0
State Aid: Damascus Fixed Route309678.00303733.00 303733.00 303733.000.0
State Aid: Ride On95482611.0033360000.00 40589000.00 40589000.0021.7
Miscellaneous Revenues23307.000.00 10397.00 0.000.0
Recreation Fees965.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Mass Transit Revenues212762575.00231635559.00 233996162.00 248159029.007.1
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages395909.001328631.00 1328631.00 1304609.00-1.8
Employee Benefits129801.00298468.00 298468.00 324580.008.8
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs525710.001627099.00 1627099.00 1629189.000.1
Operating Expenses2939090.003487745.00 3487745.00 3487745.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures3464800.005114844.00 5114844.00 5116934.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time15.0015.00 15.00 15.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs13.1013.10 13.10 13.100.0
REVENUES
Federal Grants0.001939693.00 1939693.00 1939694.000.0
State Grants0.003175151.00 3175151.00 3177240.000.1
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues0.005114844.00 5114844.00 5116934.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures152919673.00172950321.00 187395152.00 182723520.005.7
Total Full-Time Positions878.00869.00 869.00 868.00-0.1
Total Part-Time Positions16.0032.00 32.00 16.00-50.0
Total FTEs908.87910.61 910.61 898.61-1.3
Total Revenues212762575.00236750403.00 239111006.00 253275963.007.0
FY24 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
MASS TRANSIT
FY23 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION167835477897.51
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Zero Emission Buses for Bethesda Circulator [Transit Services]3080000.00
Enhance: Transportation Services Improvement Fund Expenditures to continue Call-N-Ride copay program and increase subsidies for wheelchair-accessible taxicabs [Community Mobility Services]2947950.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment55588420.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY23 Compensation Increases47772010.00
Increase Cost: FY24 Compensation Adjustment39007790.00
Increase Cost: Risk Management Adjustment5815380.00
Increase Cost: FY23 Mid-Year Position Changes [Transit Services General Administration]1000900.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY23 Lapsed Positions793700.00
Increase Cost: Transit System Radio Equipment Maintenance [Transit Services]321550.00
Increase Cost: Marketing Services Contracts Escalation [Community Mobility Services]260000.00
Increase Cost: Transportation Management District Biennial Reports [Community Mobility Services]200000.00
Increase Cost: Commuter Survey For Employees & Residents [Community Mobility Services]200000.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail104020.00
Increase Cost: Routes & Scheduling Software Contract Escalation [Transit Services]71180.00
Increase Cost: TRiPS Commuter Stores Contract Escalation [Community Mobility Services]70000.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts [Community Mobility Services]49850.00
Decrease Cost: Retirement Adjustment-1379590.00
Re-align: Adjust Call-N-Ride budget to reflect actual expenditures [Community Mobility Services]-5000000.00
Re-align: One-time Budget Adjustment to Reflect Higher Than Expected Vacant Positions-11213350.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY23 Personnel Costs-16397860.00
Re-align: Adjust Ride On Budget to reflect anticipated staffing requirement [Transit Services]-2558086-12.00
FY24 RECOMMENDED177606586885.51
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
FY23 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION511484413.10
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: COG Grant Increase [Community Mobility Services]20900.00
FY24 RECOMMENDED511693413.10
Program Summary
Program NameFY23 APPR
Expenditures
FY23 APPR
FTEs
FY24 REC
Expenditures
FY24 REC
FTEs
Community Mobility Services1706250534.831724982234.83
Transit Services153884527869.78163474203857.78
Transit Services General Administration20032896.0019994956.00
Total172950321910.61182723520898.61
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY23
Total$
FY23
FTES
FY24
Total$
FY24
FTES
MASS TRANSIT
Health and Human ServicesGeneral Fund2826940.002736940.00
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY24FY25FY26FY27FY28FY29
MASS TRANSIT
EXPENDITURES
FY24 Recommended177607.000000177607.000000177607.000000177607.000000177607.000000177607.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Commuter Survey for Employees & Residents0.000000130.0000000.000000160.00000010.000000160.000000
The Commuter Survey is conducted biennially to determine the commuting patterns of employees and residents of TMDs and other geographic areas of the County. This data is used to evaluate commuting patterns and to assess progress toward commuting goals as well as County and regional environmental and climate change goals.
Restore One-Time Lapse Increase0.0000001121.0000001121.0000001121.0000001121.0000001121.000000
Restore funding for positions expected to be vacant in FY24
Transportation Services Improvement Fund Expenditures0.000000-481.000000-311.000000-124.00000081.00000081.000000
Expenditures from the Transportation Services Improvement Fund, restricted to programs that improve transportation service for residents who are disabled, seniors, and individuals with limited incomes, will vary from year to year based on projected fund resources.
Labor Contracts0.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures177607.000000181334.000000181374.000000181721.000000181776.000000181926.000000