Welcome to Go Howard! Formerly Howard Commuter Solutions, we’re your resource for information on ridesharing, transit, biking, and other alternatives to driving by yourself in Howard County.

Go Howard is the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program of Howard County, Maryland, funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation / Maryland Transit Administration and the Howard County Office of Transportation.

What’s Happening in Howard County?

Ahead of Car Free Day this Thursday, we’re thinking about any trips we could manage without a car. We’ve talked about grabbing lunch or coffee when we’re working, taking our kids to a Tot Lot, grabbing take out for dinner and a bigger one: our commute. We’re pledging to pick one trip this week to do without a car and want to know if you will too. Tell us, how are you going to Skip a Trip.

Have you made plans to join us, Downtown Columbia Partnership, Columbia Association and more next Saturday, September 24th for our Fall BikeAround Downtown Block Party?

Help us kick off BikeAround Downtown weekend at Azlon Plaza in Downtown Columbia from 9:00 a.m. to noon and learn how to make cycling a bigger part of your transportation, fitness and recreation routine. The BikeAround Downtown course will be open and marked from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on September 24th and September 25th.
Registration and waiver completion are required for participation: https://bit.ly/3eTshZl

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RTA Will Be FAre-Free in September and October!

RTA Service Adjustments Begin July 10th

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Scooter Launch

Howard County’s Electric Scooter Sharing System Launched June 3rd!

The first shared electric scooter system in Howard County officially launched on Friday, June 3, 2022. The system is operated by SPIN, an electric mobility company, through a permit provided by Howard County Office of Transportation and partnership with Downtown Columbia Partnership, Brookfield Properties (owner of The Mall in Columbia), Columbia Association, and The Howard Hughes Corporation.

E-scooters are designed to reduce road congestion and cut fossil fuel emissions from automobiles. The electric scooters require a fraction of the energy of combustion engines and take up less parking space. Like bicycles, they are driven on roads and trails and generally follow the same safety rules. While relatively new in the United States, in some communities shared scooters have already proven to be an affordable and valuable first and last mile mode of transportation, providing connectivity to transit, business, employment and recreation.

More info on the program can be found here.

Gas Carpool

You’ve got options to reduce your fuel costs!

Carpooling and vanpooling can cut your fuels costs and our ridematching service is free. Plus, with Guaranteed Ride Home you can get a free ride home six times per year so you won’t get stuck. Why not check it out today?

Not commuting regularly or want to ditch your car altogether? Carpool Now is an app that will match you in real time where you are or at popular pick up points in the D.C area.

There are also multiple transit providers in Howard County with varying hours of service and destinations: Maryland Transit Administration (Commuter bus, train, light rail, and local bus service), Regional Transit Agency of Central Maryland (local bus service connecting Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s Counties and the City of Laurel), and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (bus and Metro rail service).

How about getting rewarded for sharing your ride, too?  Check out IncenTrip to learn about how you can earn money for carpooling, vanpooling and taking transit!

Who doesn’t like having options?! Curious what you could save? Try MDOT’s Commute Calculator.

2022 System Closure

Howard County Bikeshare Pilot Program Ending; Planning Underway for Next Generation of Transportation 

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Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced new incentives to recruit and retain bus drivers for the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA), which is facing a driver shortage. Currently RTA needs to immediately recruit 31 out of a total need of 85 drivers. These incentives include:
• Increasing salaries for all fixed route RTA drivers, starting at $20 per hour, bringing entry level salary above $40,000 annually, and increase of over $5,000 a year.
• Recruitment bonuses of $3,000, paid in quarterly increments for first year of employment
• Retention bonuses of $1,500 to existing employees, paid in quarterly increments.
• Lowering age eligibility for RTA driver employment from 21 to 19 years, on a pilot basis over the next year.
• Provide in-house training and assistance with getting a CDL license.
• Provide $250 referral bonuses for existing RTA employees who refer someone successfully.
This is a one-stop shop for anyone 19 years and above to receive PAID CDL training and licensure assistance with a commitment to join and stay with RTA’s dedicated team of drivers. To learn more about employment opportunities, please visit RTA’s website at www.transitRTA.com/employment or email HR@transitrta.com.
Due to the driver shortage, RTA has already planned to institute a service reduction on low ridership routes from February 6th to April, or until enough drivers are hired: https://www.transitrta.com/february2022/

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All Howard County Public School System middle and high school students are now able to ride Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland buses for FREE! Visit your school office for details on how to get your FREE student bus pass good through next September. More info: howardcountymd.gov/News082521

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Attention Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland riders! The new Howard County Circuit Courthouse, located at 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043, is served by the Old Annapolis Road/Bendix Road stop on Route 403.

Mobile ticketing is now available for RTA riders
The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA), the Transit mobile app, and Token Transit announced an innovative partnership, giving riders the ability to plan, track and pay for their RTA trip on the same platform. The all-in-one system is a first in the state of Maryland.

Interested in finding out what we’re doing in Downtown Columbia? Our TDM Specialist talked with the Downtown Columbia Partnership about all things transportation in DTC.

Telework TipsComm Choice Telework Guide

Commuter Choice Maryland’s Telework Guide

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Earn cash by choosing a smart commute!

incenTrip is a multimodal trip planning app that rewards points for each commute trip you plan and take during the a.m. and p.m. peak commuting times and log into the app. Washington area commuters can earn up to $10 after completing 10 trips – or save your points to earn $50. Rinse and repeat. It’s that simple! Up to $600 can be earned per calendar year. You must have a Commuter Connections account to earn cash – but don’t worry, registration is free and easy.

Sign-up now for Commuter Connections and link your account to the incenTrip app, available at the Apple App Store and Google Play.

CommuterChoice

Looking for options outside Howard County? Try MDOT’s Commuter Choice Maryland.