LEONARDTOWN, Md. — During a meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on Dec. 3, 2024, the St. Mary’s Department of Public Works and Transportation received unanimous approval from the commissioners to allocate approximately $1.6 million for its yearly operating budget. This amount matches funding provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.
The Department of Public Works and Transportation currently has several projects underway, with immediate funding directed toward the construction of 117 new bus stops across the county. This effort is part of a transition from a primarily flag-based bus system to a more structured bus-stop system. Flag stops occur when individuals signal a bus traveling along a specific route to pick them up, whereas bus stops are designated physical locations where buses routinely pick up and drop off passengers.
Flag stops, however, will remain an important feature in rural areas. The new bus stops will primarily be located along major routes such as Route 235 and Route 245. Commissioner Mike Hewitt noted that members of the Mennonite community have expressed concerns about the system changes, as they rely heavily on the existing flag-stop system due to their inability to drive. To address these concerns, the department stated: “We will pick you up at a flag, but we will only drop you off at a stop.”
The changes follow the state of Maryland’s recent decision to allocate funding for county bus lines based on ridership rates rather than the block grants previously provided. Neighboring counties such as Calvert and Charles offer free bus services and have seen increases in ridership, while St. Mary’s has not experienced similar growth.
The St. Mary’s Department of Public Works and Transportation expressed concerns that stagnant ridership rates could lead to a loss of state funding. The department hopes that the planned improvements to the bus system will encourage greater use and secure continued funding.
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117 bus stops? Lol…