Flash BRT

Flash BRT is a bus rapid transit network in Montgomery County, Maryland with one operational line and two more under development.[1] When complete, the network will run along U.S. 29 from Silver Spring to Burtonsville, Maryland Route 355 from Bethesda to Clarksburg, and Veirs Mill Road from Wheaton to Rockville.[2]

Flash BRT
Overview
OwnerRide On
LocaleMontgomery County, Maryland
Transit typeBus rapid transit
Number of lines1 operational
2 under development
Number of stations12 (operational)
~45 (overall)
HeadquartersRockville, Maryland
Websitehttp://www.ridetheflash.com
Operation
Began operationOctober 14, 2020
(U.S. 29 only)
Operator(s)Ride On
Number of vehicles16
Technical
System length14 mi (23 km) on U.S. 29[1]

Route

U.S. Route 29

The service runs from the Silver Spring Metrorail station along U.S. 29, before ending at the Burtonsville Park and Ride. Buses drive along the shoulder at the northern end of the route, with the remainder of the service using mixed-traffic roadways. Buses also receive signal priority at some intersections.[1] Howard County has also studied the possibility of extending the BRT line from Burtonsville to Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City.[3] The line opened on October 14, 2020 replacing route 129.[4]

Maryland Route 355

Once complete, this line will begin at Bethesda Station and run along MD 355 through the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg before terminating at the Clarksburg Outlets shopping mall.[5]

Veirs Mill Road

Currently in the preliminary design phase, this line will run from Wheaton station to Rockville station and connect to the MD 355 line. The initial plan includes 11 stations, with a possible future extension to Montgomery College along that portion of the MD 355 line's route.[6]

Buses

Flash BRT bus

The Montgomery Country Department of Transportation purchased 16 Nova Bus LFS articulated buses for the U.S. 29 line. These buses can fit up to 80 passengers and feature level boarding, onboard bike racks, and an automatic wheelchair securement system.[7] The buses are also equipped with a pedestrian sensor, which alerts the driver when people are passing in front of the bus. As with other Ride On buses, each bus also features a WiFi hotspot. Passengers can board or exit the bus through any of its three doors.

Stations

Four Corners station

There are approximately 45 stations proposed across the network, with 12 stations currently operating. Each station includes a large canopy, a seating area, and a fare payment machine that accepts SmarTrip cards along with traditional forms of payment.[4] Stations are also equipped with a passenger information system to let passengers know when the next bus is coming and a blue pylon mounted above the canopy that flashes when a bus is about to arrive.

U.S. Route 29

Station NameLocationConnectionsFacilities
Silver SpringBus Bay 229
8400 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Washington Metro Red Line
MARC Train: Brunswick Line
Purple Line (future)
Metrobus: 70, 79, F4, J1, J2, J4, Q1, Q2, Q4, S2, S9, Y2, Y7, Y8, Z2, Z6, Z7, Z8, Z11
Ride On: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28
MTA Maryland Bus: 915, 929
Shuttle-UM: 111
Peter Pan Bus
Transit center (existing)
Capital Bikeshare
Fenton StreetColesville Road & Fenton Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Metrobus: F4, Z2, Z6, Z7, Z8, Z11
Ride On: 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 28
MTA Maryland Bus: 305, 315, 325
Capital Bikeshare
Four CornersNorthbound: Colesville Road & Lanark Way
Southbound: Colesville Road & University Boulevard
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Metrobus: C2, C4, Z2, Z6, Z8
Ride On: 9, 19, 21
Burnt MillsBurnt Mills Shopping Center
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Metrobus: Z2, Z6, Z8, Z11
Ride On: 21, 22
Capital Bikeshare
Oak Leaf DriveNorthbound: Lockwood Drive & Northwest Drive
Southbound: Lockwood Drive & Oak Leaf Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Metrobus: Z2, Z6, Z8 Capital Bikeshare
FDANorthwest Loop Road
White Oak, MD 20903
Metrobus: C8, K9
MTA Maryland Bus: 203, 204
White Oak Transit CenterLockwood Drive north of New Hampshire Avenue
White Oak, MD 20904
Metrobus: C8, K6, Z6, Z8
Ride On: 10
Capital Bikeshare
April LaneStewart Lane & April Lane
White Oak, MD 20904
Metrobus: Z6, Z8
Ride On: 10
Capital Bikeshare
Tech RoadColumbia Pike & Tech Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Metrobus: Z6, Z7, Z8
Ride On: 10
130 parking spaces
Castle BoulevardCastle Boulevard & Castle Ridge Circle
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Metrobus: Z6, Z8, Z11 Capital Bikeshare
Briggs ChaneyGateshed Manor Way & Briggs Chaney Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Metrobus: Z6, Z8, Z11
Ride On: 21, 39
Capital Bikeshare
240 parking spaces
Public restrooms
BurtonsvilleNational Drive & US 29
Burtonsville, MD 20866
Metrobus: Z6, Z7, Z11
MTA Maryland Bus: 201, 202, 203, 305, 315
Bus loop/drop off
500 parking spaces

References

  1. Pascale, Jordan (2020-10-13). "Montgomery County Launches A New Rapid Bus Service This Week". WAMU 88.5. Washington, DC.
  2. "WHERE WILL IT BE?". Ride the FLASH. 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  3. "Info". /www.howardcountymd.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  4. Lazo, Luz. "The D.C. region's most ambitious try at bus rapid transit is coming to Montgomery County". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  5. "Bus Rapid Transit On MD 355 | Get On Board BRT". Ride the FLASH. 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  6. "FLASH on Veirs Mill". Ride the FLASH. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  7. Diegel, Mike (2020-10-15). "County DOT Launches Flash Bus Rapid Transit Service". Source of the Spring. Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
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