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Transportation office credits grant wins and rising ridership as it seeks FY26 operating and capital support
Summary
Anne Arundel County’s transportation staff reported rising fixed‑route ridership and multiple competitive grant awards, including an electric ferry and low‑no bus funding, and described capital projects including the Odenton MARC TOD garage and a transportation operations facility.
Anne Arundel County’s Office of Transportation told the County Council that transit ridership has grown sharply and that the department has won multiple competitive grants that are increasing both grant revenue and local matching requirements in the FY26 plan.
Transportation Administrator Sam Snead and staff said ridership climbed to about 349,000 riders in the past 12 months, up substantially from roughly 100,000 annual riders about three years earlier. The department continued to operate fare‑free local transit and credited contract operator Transdev for supporting increased service; the transit contract and wage pressures contributed to operating increases.
Staff highlighted several competitive awards and grants: Safe Streets for All and Safe Routes to School planning grants, a low‑no grant for three hybrid buses on high‑performing routes, an electric ferry competitive award (county won funds to buy two electric ferries and charging infrastructure), and expanded urban transit grants that account for an increase in grant fund totals. The budget office noted an increase in grant match and PSC adjustments as drivers of the FY26 funding change.
On capital, staff described the Odenton MARC transit‑oriented development (TOD) parking garage project (phase 1 and 2A) that will add enclosed parking and multimodal features and free land for future development; a transportation operations facility to support the county’s bus/van fleet and future electrification; and additional multi‑jurisdictional trail and bikeway projects such as the Poplar Trail connection and partnerships with the city and the state.
Councilmembers asked about the new Uber/Lyft fee revenue that supports transit; staff said the county collected about $1.15 million from those fees, which are used for transportation initiatives. Members also asked about the ARPA funds the department still planned to use; staff said some ARPA funds were extended and programmed for FY26 capital work.
No formal council action was taken during the presentation; capital and operating requests will be resolved in the council’s budget process.
