64 Ride On Bus Route Will Have Updated Schedules Starting Sunday To Improve Service

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The schedules of 64 Ride On bus routes will be changed this weekend and 25 will have added trip times. The changes are based on ridership data and schedule performance, the county said. Routes that used to have service after midnight before the pandemic started will have that again, according to the announcement.

Changes go into effect on Sunday, Oct. 10.

“Adjusting our bus routes allows us to better meet the needs of our residents based on our usage rates,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin in the announcement. “We aim to reduce wait times and make sure we have the expansion of services in place to better service our communities as ridership returns. Ridership is up to about 60 percent of pre-pandemic numbers and we expect that to continue to rise.”

Here are the routes that are going to see some changes:

• Flash Blue Schedule
• Flash Orange Weekday Schedule
• Flash Weekend/Holiday Schedule
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• 5
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“Many of our residents rely on public transportation and it is important that we are continually evaluating service needs to ensure coverage,” said County Marc Executive Elrich in the announcement. “Our residents are still feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, and I am pleased that my recommendation of extending free bus service until at least Jan. 1 was approved by Council last week. I encourage everyone to utilize our bus service as a safe, environmentally friendly and free way to get around the County.”

The County Council voted to keep Ride On bus service fare-free until Jan. 1, 2022. It was initially waived at the beginning of the pandemic to reduce financial hardship on its riders.

"Extending the Ride On fare holiday will help us improve transit access, grow bus ridership, and help our workforce get to and from their jobs as we continue our economic recovery," said Councilmember Andrew Friedson in a statement last week. "It's a win-win for our climate and our local economy."