Public Transportation in Howard County
Howard County is served primarily by the Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) with limited service by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).
Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA)
Fixed Route Service
The RTA, managed by Transdev and overseen by the Howard County Office of Transportation, provides 15 local fixed bus routes in Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County and the City of Laurel.
RTA Mobility Services
RTA Mobility is a curb-to-curb, shared ride transportation service for passengers who are unable to ride RTA fixed route transit system due to a disability or age. “Shared ride” means multiple passengers riding together in the same vehicle at the same time. RTA Mobility provides two (2) types of service: complementary American with Disability Act (ADA) and General Paratransit (GPT) throughout the Central Maryland Regional Transit zones: Howard County, Anne Arundel County, City of Laurel, and Northern Prince George’s County
Other Local Service Providers
Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA)
The MTA provides local and Commuter bus service, and MARC train service throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Please note links are maintained by the MTA, not the Office of Transportation.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Visit WMATA for information about getting to, from, and around the District, including on the Metro.
Local Nonprofits
Though not affiliated with Howard County Government or the Office of Transportation, there are other local agencies that provide transportation services, including NeighborRide, Humanim, and the ARC of Howard County
Shared micromobility options, like bikeshare and shared electric scooters, can be a beneficial component of "last-mile" trips for transit riders. Howard County continues to explore what micromobility options work best for residents and visitors.
Howard County's bikeshare system ended operations in February 2022.
In 2023 and 2024, no vendors applied for a permit to operate shared electric scooters in Howard County. If a permit is granted to any scooter sharing vendor, that vendor's contact information will be posted on the program webpage.