Transit
Free buses, delayed BRT, and on-demand experiments
FY2026 budget: $211M
Ride On at a glance
Montgomery County operates one of the most heavily ridden suburban bus systems in the country, with 19.6 million rides in 2025 across approximately 400 buses on 80 routes. The Transit Services operating budget has grown from $112.3 million in FY2018 to $211 million in FY2026, an 88% increase.
Flash BRT: 13 years from concept to first line
Ride On Flash launched October 14, 2020 on the US 29 corridor — roughly 13 years after then-Council Member Marc Elrich first proposed BRT in 2007. The 14-mile route cost approximately $31 million ($2.2 million/mile). It carries approximately 4,000 riders daily. Dedicated bus lanes exist on only the northern 40% of the route; the southern section operates in mixed traffic. The planned Veirs Mill corridor is estimated at $87 million; the MD 355 Central corridor at $358 million.
FLEX microtransit
Ride On FLEX, launched June 2019, uses Via's technology to provide app-based rides in small geographic zones. Three zones operate (Rockville, Glenmont/Wheaton, White Oak/Sandy Spring), each served by 1–2 vehicles during limited hours. A 2020 MWCOG assessment noted that microtransit "may be cost neutral and not result in cost savings." Montgomery County does not publicly report FLEX's cost per ride — it is embedded within the $211 million Transit Services budget.
Zero-fare policy
On June 29, 2025, all Ride On services became fare-free. Fare revenue had already collapsed from approximately $10 million annually to $1.6 million. New fare equipment would have cost $19–$22 million, requiring 6–10 years to recoup. Critics note an equity problem: Ride On is free while Metrobus within the county costs $2.25, and Metrobus routes disproportionately serve areas with higher BIPOC populations.