Ride On Bus Will Be Increasing Frequency on 31 Routes Starting Sunday, Jan. 29

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will increase service on 31 Ride On bus routes starting Sunday, Jan. 29. The increases are part of the adjustments to 44 routes overall to improve efficiency based on ridership.

Throughout the year, ridership data and on-time performance are monitored regularly to identify routes that could achieve increased efficiency with schedule updates.

“Public transit that is reliable and on time is critical to the people who count on it,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is a best practice to regularly evaluate and adjust bus service to ensure needs are being met. Dependable and reliable bus service leads to increased ridership which supports our sustainability efforts, reduces congestion and increases the quality of life for our residents.”

Montgomery County bus route changes starting Jan. 29 will include:

• 31 routes will have increased frequency due to ridership: 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 25, 29, 31, 33, 34, 36, 39, 47, 48, 51, 57, 63, 70, 76, 83, 98, 100, 101 and Metro Bus routes L8, T2; Three of these routes also have slight time changes: 18, 48, 76
• Four routes have decreased frequency due to ridership levels: 45, 46, 75, 96
• Nine routes will have time changes for accuracy, but no changes in frequency: 9, 10, 30, 37, 38, 43, 44, 66, 67
• Additionally, 20 of the above-listed routes will have a change in overall hours of operation: 1, 5, 14, 18, 22, 25, 29, 31, 33, 51, 57, 63, 66, 67, 70, 75, 83, 98 and Metro Bus routes L8, T2
• One route has a slight route change with no bus stop, time or frequency changes: 51

Updates that will be made, listed by individual route:

• Route 1: Increased trips on weekdays and Sundays. Significant span changes on Sundays.
• Route 2: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 5: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Route 8: Increased trips on weekdays.
• Route 9: Schedule time was adjusted seven days a week.
• Route 10: Trip time changes were made on weekdays.
• Route 11: Increased trips on weekdays.
• Route 12: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 14: Increased trips on weekdays and Saturdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 15: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 17: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 18: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes were made on Saturdays, and running time was adjusted on Sundays.
• Route 22: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 25: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 26: Metro Station name change on the route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route 29: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Modest span changes seven days a week.
• Route 30: Trip time changes were made on weekdays.
• Route 31: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 33: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 34: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 36: Increased trips on weekdays.
• Route 37: Trip time changes were made on weekdays.
• Route 38: Trip time changes were made on weekdays, and Metro station name change on the route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route 39: Increased trips on weekdays.
• Route 42: Metro Station name change on the route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route 43: Trip time changes were made seven days a week.
• Route 44: Trip time changes were made on weekdays.
• Route 45: Decreased trips on weekdays.
• Route 46: Decreased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Metro Station name change on the route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route 47: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Route 48: Trip time changes were made on weekdays. Increased trips on Saturdays and Sundays
• Route 51: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays. Now extended to terminate at Georgia Ave ICC Park and Ride.
• Route 57: Increased trips on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Modest span changes seven days a week.
• Route 63: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 66: Trip time changes were made on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 67: Trip time changes were made on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 70: Increased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 75: Decreased trips on weekdays. Modest span changes on weekdays.
• Route 76: Increased trips on weekdays. Trip time changes were made on Saturdays.
• Route 81: Metro Station name change on the route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route 83: Increased trips on weekdays and Saturdays. Modest span changes on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Route 96: Decreased trips on weekdays.
• Route 98: Increased trips on weekdays and Saturdays. Modest span changes on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Route 100: Increased trips on weekdays.
• Route 101: Increased trips on weekdays. Metro Station name change on route - White Flint to North Bethesda.
• Route L8: Increased trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Modest span changes on Sundays.
• Route T2: Increased trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Modest span changes on Saturdays and Sundays.

Riders can get County bus schedule and trip planning information by visiting the Ride On Real Time webpage here.

“Being dependable is our priority,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We are continually making data driven changes to improve consistency and reduce travel times.” 

All County buses have a fare of $1 to ride, reduced from the $2 pre-pandemic fare.