Final Network

The final network represents all routes envisioned for the future of bus transit in Montgomery County. This includes the planned expansions and modifications to coverage and local routes, high-capacity routes, express routes, commuter routes, BRT, and Flex on-demand transit zones. It is important to understand that these services are on different implementation timelines and that their schedules depend on phasing considerations.

Ride On Reimagined - images of five bus types

In this section

 

Key Vision Network features

Flex logo

19

New Ride On

Flex Zones

Flash and Ride On extRa logos

17

Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and

Ride On extRa routes

30

routes will have

improved weekday frequencies

26

routes will have

new weekend service

173,000

additional people will have

access to Wheaton Station

13,930

more jobs

within 30 minutes

For planning purposes, improvements are segmented into one of three planning horizons: Year 1, Year 5, and Vision:

  • Year 1 Network: The Year 1 Network is resource-constrained, meaning it only includes improvements that MCDOT can fund with its existing and near-term operating budget and current vehicle fleet. The service plan assumes WMATA’s Year 1 plan is fully implemented.

    Learn more about the Year 1 Network (PDF).

  • Year 5 Network: The Year 5 Network service plan assumes a moderate increase in operating resources over the first five years of the plan, equal to roughly 5% of revenue hours per year above 2024 levels. The service plan assumes WMATA’s Vision Plan network is fully implemented along with MCDOT’s Flash MD 355 (Phase 1 – Central Phase) and Veirs Mill Road BRT projects and MTA’s Purple Line project. The Year 5 Network also assumes that MCDOT will be prepared to scale up its Ride On Flex program. Projects in the Year 5 plan could be implemented at any point as resources become available and external factors (such as completion of BRT lines) warrant.

    Learn more about the Year 5 Network (PDF).

  • Vision Network: The Vision Plan is financially unconstrained and represents the full build-out of the future Montgomery County transit network. The service plan assumes implementation of MCDOT’s Flash BRT program, introduction of new Ride On Flex zones, and full conformance with the service standards outlined in the plan. Phasing for the Vision Network has been developed to align with planned capital projects and the implementation of Flex zones.

    Learn more about the Vision Network (PDF).