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Committee adds Poolesville and Damascus flex zones and Burtonsville Flash enhancement to reconciliation list
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Summary
After reviewing FY27 transit service proposals, the committee agreed to add Poolesville and Damascus Ride On Flex microtransit zones and an all-day Burtonsville Flash expansion to the reconciliation list, directing staff to return with implementation details and data on ridership and program performance.
The Transportation and Environment Committee recommended that the executive’s FY27 transit services proposals include two new Ride On Flex microtransit zones — Poolesville and Damascus — and an all-day enhancement for the Burtonsville Flash route, and the committee put both items on the reconciliation list for further consideration during the budget process.
Council staff described the FY27 transit recommendations as a roughly $7 million (3%) increase to the Division of Transit Services. Of that amount, $1.157 million was identified as programmatic and staff additions to be placed on the reconciliation list, including $913,000 to expand flex service and $243,000 to enhance all-day Burtonsville Flash service. Staff outlined four options for the flex expansion, including accepting the executive proposal, reducing the recommendation, swapping funding from Rockville/Wheaton, or eliminating Rockville/Wheaton services to reallocate resources.
Phil McLaughlin of MCDOT and Director Conklin explained how flex services operate (smaller vehicles, app-based ride pooling) and noted program performance to date: initial studies showed a ~62% trip completion rate in early pilots, an average of 1.14 passengers per trip, many single-passenger trips, and a concentration of trips among "super users" (top customers responsible for a large share of trips). Committee members repeatedly pressed for more granular user data and asked whether app registration and in-app surveys could clarify who uses the service and why.
District and committee members emphasized equity and lack of existing local access in Poolesville and Damascus ("Poolesville doesn't even have a grocery store"), arguing that flex can provide essential first/last-mile access in low-service areas. Staff noted the proposed Poolesville and Damascus services would operate 6 a.m.–7 p.m., seven days a week, require 10 new driver FTEs and five buses (two per zone plus one spare), and are projected to start in January 2027 if funded. The Burtonsville Flash enhancement would fill midday gaps and run the Blue route all day; staff estimated an annualized cost near $490,000.
After hearing from local council members and DOT staff on costs, data needs, and program trade-offs, the committee agreed "without objection" to add the two flex zones and the Burtonsville Flash expansion to the reconciliation list and directed staff to provide additional ridership and equity information for full council consideration.
