Service Adjustments

The Service Update identifies a number of temporary bus service adjustments across our service area as the region continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. These adjustments and modifications will be made to certain routes in order to improve reliability during this staffing shortage. The changes will take effect on Sunday, February 6th, 2022.

Background

Over the past 2 years there has been an employment landscape shift for bus drivers across the entire country. Like most other transit agencies, RTA is also experiencing a driver shortage.

RTA has developed a plan with our partners to increase recruitment and retention of its driving staff. Among other strategies, the main approaches are an increased driver salary, a $3,000 signing bonus, and offering paid training to applicants without a commercial driver’s license. Click here to see the career opportunities page.

Until the required number of drivers are hired and trained, RTA will implement a service reduction. This will allow RTA to reliably provide the service published. Details of this reduction are listed below.

Service Adjustments

RTA Mobility Services will NOT be effected by any of the following adjustments to the bus service.

Route 301 Towne Center Laurel to South Laurel

Adjust Weekday service to match Saturday Hours

  • Eliminate the following trips TO SOUTH LAUREL: (6:25 am, 7:25 am, 8:25 am)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO TOWNE CENTRE LAUREL: (6:43 am, 7:43 am, 8:43 am)

Route 403 Columbia to Executive Park Drive

Reduce Service Hours

Weekdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO COLUMBIA 100: (6:00 am, 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm, 10:00 pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA: (5:37 am, 6:20 am, 7:20 am, 8:20 am, 6:20 pm, 7:20 pm, 8:20 pm, 9:20 pm)
  • On weekdays, the first trip to the Mall in Columbia will start at the Selborne House of Dorsey Hall at 8:37 am.

Saturdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO COLUMBIA 100: (8:00 am, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA: (7:37 am, 8:20 am, 6:20 pm, 7:20 pm)
  • On Saturdays, the first trip to the Mall in Columbia will start at the Selborne House of Dorsey Hall at 8:37 am.

Route 404 Columbia to Hickory Ridge

Reduce Service Hours

Weekdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO HICKORY RIDGE VILLAGE on Weekdays: (6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA on Weekdays: (6:22 pm, 7:22 pm, 8:22 pm, 9:22 pm)

Saturdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO HICKORY RIDGE VILLAGE on Saturdays: (6:00 pm, 7:00 pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA on Saturdays: (6:22 pm, 7:22 pm)

Route 405 Columbia to Ellicott City

Reduce Frequency in Morning

  • Eliminate the following trips TO ELLICOTT CITY on Weekdays: (6:00 am)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA on Weekdays: (6:49 am)

Route 406 Columbia to Columbia Gateway

Eliminate Route

  • This route will temporary be out of service during the service reduction.

Route 503 Columbia to Towne Center Laurel

Reduce Frequency

Weekdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO TOWNE CENTRE LAUREL on Weekdays: (8:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 8:00pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA on Weekdays: (6:30 am, 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:30 pm)

Saturdays

  • Eliminate the following trips TO TOWNE CENTRE LAUREL on Saturdays: (11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm)
  • Eliminate the following trips TO THE MALL IN COLUMBIA on Saturdays: (9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:30 pm)