US 29 Flash BRT adds four stops to downtown Columbia starting Sept. 8

Starting Sept. 8, transit riders in Silver Spring, White Oak, Briggs Chaney, and Fairland will gain a direct link to workforce hubs in Howard County. An expansion of the U.S. 29 Flash Blue Route will add four new stops, carrying commuters straight from eastern Montgomery County to Maple Lawn, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and downtown Columbia.

County officials say the service, running every 15 to 20 minutes during peak commuting hours from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., is expected to give local workers a reliable alternative to sitting in peak-hour gridlock on U.S. 29.

“The expanded service benefits both Montgomery and Howard County. With this new service, Montgomery County residents can use transit to access the Columbia Mall and Merriweather District for shopping, dining, and job opportunities, and also access other major employment centers including the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory,” Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin said in a statement.

According to county documents, the project stems from a partnership between Montgomery and Howard counties. Howard County funded and constructed the new Flash stations, contributed local funds toward the purchase of new zero-emission electric buses, and is funding the operating cost of the service extension.

MCDOT will operate the service.

Under the county's zero-fare policy enacted in June 2025, the Flash BRT is free, like all Montgomery County Ride On buses.