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Committee advances $17.5M transit budget increase, BRT amendments and pilot programs
Summary
The committee advanced the Mass Transit Fund operating budget with a roughly $17.5 million (9%) increase, discussed CIP amendments for bus rapid transit projects and approved pilot programs including automated bus-lane enforcement; the Howard County FLASH extension and hydrogen bus funding swaps were addressed as contingent or administrative items.
Council staff presented an overview of the FY26 Mass Transit Fund operating budget and related CIP amendments on April 29, describing a $17.4'$17.5 million net increase (about 9%) largely driven by personnel and compensation adjustments.
Staff detailed three proposed operating additions: a $1.1 million operating component for a Howard County FLASH extension (funded by Howard County, contingent on their appropriation); a $250,000 annual Transit Ambassadors program tied to the ride-free rollout; and a $160,000 pilot to administer automated bus-lane enforcement in county bus-only lanes. "This $160,000 is just the operating costs for administering the program," staff said, noting WMATA would supply capital for cameras under the contemplated agreement.
On the Howard County FLASH expansion, staff explained that Howard County had not yet completed its appropriation as of the morning of the work session; DOT recommended retaining the line item because no county funds would be spent until Howard County finalizes its funding. The committee debated timing and accounting (whether to show a full-year assumption or a partial-year amount) and asked staff to manage appropriation and spending protocols so county funds are not spent without offsetting revenue.
CIP amendments included savings from eliminating onboard fare equipment tied to the fare-free decision (zeroing out a fare equipment replacement project and reducing bus fleet procurement costs) and state-driven BRT funding shifts for MD-355 projects. Joanna Conklin (DGS BRT program) described a funding swap and a $22.4 million change that extends the MD-355 central BRT to Rockville Metro Station in the near-term amendment while other segments remain unfunded.
On hydrogen fuel cell buses, staff said a $1.4 million swap from federal aid to current revenue is an administrative change required to match the FTA grant agreement; DGS confirmed no new money is required and the delay is for design/contracting, not insufficient funding.
Members requested more precise breakdowns for the ambassadors program (contract vs. overtime), stronger metrics for any contracted outreach, and clarification of enforcement business rules for the bus-lane pilot (staff said a warning period of roughly 30'45 days is expected in early implementation). Staff recommended the items and the committee approved the operating recommendations by unanimous consent.
Next steps: the full council will review these operating and CIP items; some items (Howard County FLASH) remain contingent on external appropriations and others (ambassadors) are on the reconciliation list for additional detail before final appropriation.
