Central Maryland Regional Transit Explained

Central Maryland Regional Transit
Founded:, as Corridor Transportation Corporation, by the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber
Commenced:May 1989
Ceased:(Renamed) by Jan 2018
Locale:Laurel, Maryland
Service Area:Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, Howard County
Service Type:Transit bus
Alliance:Central Maryland Transportation Alliance
Routes:17[1]
Fleet:72 vehicles
Annual Ridership:1.6 million in FY 2011
Operator:Central Maryland Regional Transit
Ceo:James B. Perez
Leader Type:Finance and Administration Director
Leader:Beverly Walenga

Central Maryland Regional Transit was a bus system serving the greater Laurel, Maryland area and parts of the neighboring Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Howard counties.[2] [3] [4] Former service into Montgomery County ended in January 2010 due to a lack of funding,[5] though a re-expansion to the county was sought.[1]

CMRT was founded as the Corridor Transportation Corporation in May 1987 by the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber, and began its transit operation as Connect-a-Ride two years later with nine buses serving five routes.[1] [6] The non-profit organization gained independence and changed its name in the early 2010 timeframe,[1] and the bus service rebranded to the same name in early 2013.[3] [4]

In 2014, Howard County initiated its own Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, recruiting Anne Arundel County to join. CMRT bid on providing services to these regions after July 1, but lost to First Transit.[7]

Despite no longer running transit operations as of July 1, 2014, CMRT continued operation as a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, specifically dedicated to providing mobility management services such as Travel Training and a website and call center branded the Transportation Resource Information Point. CMRT's Travel Training program was "a comprehensive training program designed to teach people the necessary skills to travel safely and independently on fixed-route public transportation" and "...intended for individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, students and low-income families."[8] The Transportation Resource Information Point was a one-call, one-click resource designed to provide regional transit information throughout Central Maryland.[9] Both programs serve a six-county region including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Prince George's Counties, and including the City of Baltimore.[8]

By January 2018, CMRT had become the Center for Mobility Equity.[10] [11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Well-traveled Perez takes reins at Maryland transit nonprofit . Lindsey . Robbins . The Gazette . February 1, 2013 . October 26, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192216/http://www.gazette.net/article/20130201/NEWS/130209833/1033/well-traveled-perez-takes-reins-at-maryland-transit-nonprofit%26template%3Dgazette . October 29, 2013 .
  2. News: Central Maryland Regional Transit names interim chief executive officer . April 24, 2012 . October 26, 2013 . Baltimore Sun .
  3. News: Central Maryland Regional Transit Unveils Rebranding . Hayley Gable . Bowerman . Arundel Voice . May 7, 2013 . October 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141105183856/http://www.arundelvoice.com/community/central-maryland-regional-transit-unveils-rebranding . November 5, 2014 . dead .
  4. News: CMRT rolls out new logo, branding of local buses . Baltimore Sun . April 5, 2013 . Glenn . Gwendolyn . October 26, 2013 .
  5. News: Connect-A-Ride Route D ends Jan. 29 . Laurel Leader . January 20, 2010 . October 26, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195513/http://archives.explorehoward.com/news/68548/connect-a-ride-route-d-ends-jan-29/ . October 29, 2013 .
  6. Web site: CMRT History . Central Maryland Regional Transit . October 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191556/http://www.cmrtransit.org/About/History.aspx . October 29, 2013 . dead .
  7. News: Baltimore Sun. Howard, Anne Arundel join to form new Regional Transportation Agency. March 27, 2014. Amanda Yeager. June 6, 2014.
  8. Web site: Travel Training . Central Maryland Regional Transit . June 24, 2017 .
  9. Web site: Maryland Transportation Resource Information Point . mdtrip.org . June 24, 2017 .
  10. Web site: History of TRIP & Membership . August 21, 2019 . MDTRIP .
  11. Web site: Posts . January 18, 2018 . August 21, 2019 . CMRT . Facebook . Please note that CMRT is now the Center for Mobility Equity. .