St. Mary’s County commissioners approve $4.73 million transit grant application; fare-free start eyed for July 1

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on Tuesday approved a $4,734,815 grant application from the St. Mary’s Transit System (STS) for FY2026 operating and capital programs and authorized the county to seek federal transit grant funds.

The request, presented by Deputy Director Donny Mills and Deputy Director Allison Swint of the Department of Public Works and Transportation, would fund operating and capital needs, with staff telling commissioners the state share is roughly $3,000,586 and the county’s local share is listed in the application materials.

“We're gearing up to go fare free approximately July 1,” Deputy Director Allison Swint said, adding that the fare‑free start is contingent on the grant’s approval and the adoption of the county’s operational budget. Swint said the county will run an informational campaign with the county communications office if the grant and budget approvals proceed as planned.

Commissioners pressed staff on where new physical shelters will be installed. Swint said three shelters will be installed this year — at the Great Mills pool, Great Mills library and near the U‑Haul on Westbury — and that the Community Development Corporation is funding two additional shelters on Great Mills Road. County staff said easements, permits and contractor purchase orders are in place for the three county‑funded shelters.

Commissioners also discussed a transition from “flag” stops to designated stops; Swint said 96 of the needed signs have been installed for 122 identified flag stops, and that some rural flag stops will remain because it is impractical to require riders to walk long distances to centralized stops.

The application packet also proposes changes to STS programs: expanding the State Specialized Transportation Program (S‑STEP) so eligible riders may travel Monday–Friday (rather than two days a week) and extending service hours from roughly 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Staff said the change is intended to improve access for riders who travel to medical appointments and for other needs.

Commissioner discussion touched on fiscal impacts of a fare‑free model. Commissioners asked whether lost farebox revenue would be offset by higher state suballocation funds tied to ridership increases; staff cautioned that the state’s suballocation method is new, and other jurisdictions moving to fare‑free at the same time could offset any county ridership gains. “In theory, the more ridership you have, the more money you'll get from the pot,” a staff member said, while noting the formula’s sensitivity to statewide ridership trends.

Commissioner Eric Colvin, who previously recommended exploring fare‑free service, and other commissioners discussed piloting fare‑free service for a trial period to collect operational and cost data before making the change permanent.

The board approved two related motions: to submit the FY26 STS transportation grant application to the Maryland Transit Administration and to adopt a resolution authorizing the commissioner president to apply for specified federal Section 530x grants through the Maryland Transit Administration. Both motions passed unanimously.

Why this matters: The grant funds support local transit operations and capital improvements, including shelters and program expansions that affect seniors, medical‑need riders and low‑income residents. Commissioners flagged the need to balance service improvements with potential local cost exposure if state suballocation funding does not increase sufficiently.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with the grant application process, plan an informational campaign if fare‑free is approved, and return as needed to clarify budgetary impacts and updated grant amounts.