Flash is a bus rapid transit network in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, with one corridor in operation and seven future corridors under development. It is part of Montgomery County's Ride On bus system.

Corridors

U.S. 29 corridor In the corridor which is currently in operation, the Flash BRT service has two routes designated as Blue and Orange running along U.S. 29, both beginning at the Silver Spring Metro station and extending northeast. Route Blue has 10 total bus stops, ending at the Mall in Columbia. Route Orange has 11 total bus stops, ending at Briggs Chaney Park and Ride.

The two routes designated as Blue and Orange started on October 14, 2020, replacing Ride On route 129 and Metrobus route Z11. All the buses go along the shoulder of U.S. 29 along the northern end of the route, with the remainder of the service using mixed-traffic roadways. The buses receive signal priority at some intersections. Stations serving the U.S. 29 corridor Station/stop name Location Connections Facilities Silver Spring Bus Bay 2298400 Colesville RdSilver Spring, MD 20910 Washington Metro: MARC: Brunswick Line Purple Line (under construction) Metrobus: C87, D40, D4X, D60, D6X, M20, M52, M54, M70, P30 Ride On: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28 MTA Maryland Bus: 915, 929 Shuttle–UM: 111 Transit center Capital Bikeshare Fenton Street Colesville Rd & Fenton StSilver Spring, MD 20910 Metrobus: M52, M54 and P30 Ride On: 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 28 MTA Maryland Bus: 305, 315, 325 Capital Bikeshare Four Corners : Colesville Rd & Lanark Way: Colesville Rd & University BlvdSilver Spring, MD 20901 Metrobus: M12, M52, M54 Ride On: 9, 19, 21 Burnt Mills Burnt Mills Shopping CenterSilver Spring, MD 20901 Metrobus: M52, M54 Ride On: 21, 22 Capital Bikeshare Oak Leaf Drive : Lockwood Dr & Northwest Dr: Lockwood Dr & Oak Leaf DrSilver Spring, MD 20901 Metrobus: M52, M54 Capital Bikeshare FDA Northwest Loop RdWhite Oak, MD 20903 Metrobus: M6X MTA Maryland Bus: 203, 204 White Oak Transit Center Lockwood Dr north of New Hampshire AveWhite Oak, MD 20904 Metrobus: M42, M52, M54, M60 Capital Bikeshare April Lane Stewart Ln & April LnWhite Oak, MD 20904 Metrobus: M42, M52, M54, M60 Capital Bikeshare Tech Road Columbia Pk & Tech RdSilver Spring, MD 20904 Metrobus: M42, M44, M52, M54 130 parking spaces Castle Boulevard Castle Blvd & Castle Ridge CirSilver Spring, MD 20904 Metrobus: M52 Capital Bikeshare Briggs Chaney Gateshed Manor Way & Briggs Chaney RdSilver Spring, MD 20904 Metrobus: M52 Ride On: 21, 39 Capital Bikeshare 240 parking spaces Public restrooms Burtonsville National Dr & US 29Burtonsville, MD 20866 Metrobus: M52 MTA Maryland Bus: 201, 202, 203, 305, 315 Bus loop/drop off >500 parking spacesMaple Lawn BoulevardEast Market Place Columbia, MD 210444 parking spacesJohns Hopkins RoadJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Columbia, MD 210446,682 parking spacesLittle Patuxent ParkwayLittle Patuxent Pkwy & Corporate Center Way Columbia, MD 21044 RTA Central Maryland bus: 401, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 501, 503 Capital BikeshareMerriweather DriveDowntown Columbia / Merriweather Post Pavilion area

Columbia, MD 210441,350 to 1,700 parking spaces

Veirs Mill Road (MD 586) corridor Scheduled to open circa 2028, the Veirs Mill Road (MD 586) corridor is planned to run along Veirs Mill Road between Wheaton Metrorail station and Montgomery College's Rockville campus. This corridor will use hydrogen cell buses.

MD 355 corridor Scheduled to open circa 2029, the MD 355 corridor is planned to begin at Friendship Heights Metrorail station and run northwest along Maryland Route 355 through Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Germantown and end at Clarksburg Outlets.

North Bethesda corridor This proposed route would run from North Bethesda Metrorail station to Montgomery Mall. Early planning work is under way as of 2023 but an opening date has not been announced yet.

New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) corridor This proposed route would run along New Hampshire Avenue between Fort Totten Metrorail station and Colesville Park and Ride. Early planning work is under way as of 2023 but an opening date has not been announced yet.

Randolph Road corridor This proposed route would run along Randolph Road between North Bethesda Metrorail station and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. Early planning work is under way as of 2023 but an opening date has not been announced yet.

Georgia Avenue corridor This proposed route would run along Georgia Avenue between MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, formerly Montgomery General Hospital, and Montgomery College's Silver Spring/Takoma Park campus. Early planning work is under way as of 2023 but an opening date has not been announced yet.

University Boulevard (MD 193) corridor This proposed route would run along University Boulevard between Wheaton Metrorail station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Early planning work is under way as of 2023 but an opening date has not been announced yet.

Buses The Montgomery Country Department of Transportation purchased 16 Nova Bus LFS articulated buses (46000D–46015D) for the U.S. 29 line, which are based out of the Gaithersburg garage. These buses can fit up to 80 passengers and feature level boarding, onboard bike racks, and an automatic wheelchair securement system. The buses are also equipped with a pedestrian sensor, which alerts the driver when people are passing in front of the bus. Each bus has a free Wi-Fi hotspot, digital interior signage, and USB charging ports. Passengers can board or exit the buses through any of their three doors.

During icy weather conditions that prevent the use of the articulated buses, Flash uses the 2017 Gillig LF40 BRT Plus diesel buses (44056D–44072D) that are in the RideOn extRa scheme.

In January 2025 and on December 5 of the year, Flash used 13 of Ride On's 2008 Gillig Low Floor diesel buses (5726, 5728, 5730, 5732–5736, 5738/5739, 5742/5743, and 5745) during the snow blizzards.

In February 2025, Flash used 8 of Ride On's 2009 Gillig Low Floor diesel buses (5747–5750 and 5753–5756) due to the snowy weather. +Active FLASH BRT rosterImageNumbersYearModelFuelEngineTransmissionNotes5737, 5744, & 57462008Gillig Low–Floor 40ftDieselCummins ISL EPA07Allison B400R5–B400R646000D–46015D2019–2020NovaBus LFS articulatedDieselCummins L9 EPA19Allison B500R646001D–46015D delivered in 2020 but are noted as part of the 2019 batch of NovaBus diesels.44254E–44257E2026Gillig Low–Floor Plus 40ft EVBattery electricCummins/Accelera BES traction motorDirect–Drive46016H–46028HNew Flyer Xcelsior XHE60Hydrogen fuel cell Ballard FCmove-HD+ fuel cell ZF AVE 130 (center axle) Cummins/Accelera ELFA3 (rear axle)To enter service in the spring/summer of 2027.

Stations

There are approximately 49 stations proposed across the entire future network, with 14 stations currently operating on the US 29 routes. Each station includes a canopy, a seating area, a passenger information system that displays when the next bus is coming, and a blue pylon mounted above the canopy that flashes when a bus is about to arrive.

References