Maryland's BEST Commuter Bus: MTA Route 201
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- Опубліковано 30 кві 2024
- How do you get from the Maryland suburbs of DC to Baltimore Airport without going through Washington? By taking bus route 201 of course!
Route 201 is operated by MTA Commuter, but it's not really a commuter bus! The route connects Gaithersburg to BWI, with several stops, including at Shady Grove metro station, Dorsey MARC station, and the Arundel Mills mall. Some services even continue to the Baltimore Greyhound station.
But what makes this route unique among MTA Commuter buses is the fact that it runs in both directions, all day. Including on the weekends and holidays!
In today's video, we ride the 201 from Shady Grove to Baltimore Washington International Airport.
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Hi Thom, love your content! I'm a proud employee of "fake" MTA and I can assure you that there's nothing fake about the hard working people who show up everyday to make the woefully underfunded, underinvested and under resourced Maryland Transit Administration tick!
I have no doubt about that!
How does the underinvestment affect your job? Are the facilities and equipment too old?
Fellow Coach Operator in LA 👋🏼 (MTA). Real quick, why does the first two trips go a different direction near the Airport before the first one goes to the Greyhound? 9:18
I am glad that North American commuter rail systems are following the trend of increasing frequency and making both-way all day service. I hope commuter bus operating agencies do that too.
Me too! Here in DC, we can look forward to weekend VRE service soon!
The problem is the in-between services - the MTA 400 series replaced the C19 and W19 - the C19 ran from Branch Avenue Metro to the St. Charles Park and Ride. The W19 was rush hour only from Southern Avenue Metro to Indian Head.
I love the 201. I live in Gaithersburg and its convenient to go to BWI. Thank you for advertising the 201.
It's one of the first things I noticed on the map when I moved to DC!
Before Larry Hogan became governor, the 201 ran once an hour. It was meant to encourage travel between midcounty and BWI Airport as the ICC had just opened (and the state has a large incentive to get its citizens to use BWI instead of Dulles). It runs every two hours because Gov. Moore hasn't resumed the service levels that his predecessor cut (and the cuts were made pre-pandemic). I live in the midcounty and I am glad 201 exists, but yes it's a haul to get to and use if it only runs every two hours.
Let’s all collectively boo Larry Hogan. Truly the grim reaper for Maryland transit.
@@Thom-TRAwait what?! What about the purple line?
@@kirillboyko9208 he literally ran against it in his campaign. Then, he only approved it by canceling the Baltimore red line and dramatically reducing the funds for it.
He has run MD’s finances into the ground so bad that MDOT is still on the brink of a cliff.
@@Thom-TRA it more nuanced.
1) Gov Hogan left Gov Moore a sizable budget surplus, so it’s hard to argue that Hogan ran MD finances to the ground. Yet, Gov Moore is proposing tax raises right now, so it’s not about who mismanaged what, it’s about each governors agenda.
2) Hogan is a traditional Republican who doesn’t believe in excessive government spending, so, naturally, one of the two infrastructure projects got nixed. That’s why he got elected in a predominantly blue state. He happened to luck out with Republican majority of the MD senate at the time who helped him kill the Red line.
3) I personally have my doubts that the revived Baltimore Red Line will be a success, judging by the “stellar” use of Baltimore light rail and Baltimore metro. In other words, Trains are awesome, but not all train projects are slam dunks.
@@kirillboyko9208 MDOT is facing an intense deficit that will lead to cuts in commuter bus service and less money for local transit agencies. That budget surplus is thanks to federal stimulus money. He should have spent that on projects that will benefit the state, not tax cuts.
His purple line cuts not only delayed construction, they will reduce headways when the line opens. And all that money went to highways instead.
Hogan is not friend of the purple line, nor transit. My point stands.
Nicknamed the ICC bus because that’s mostly where it travels on the way to BWI.
I was just at BWI station yesterday! Small world!
What were you doing there?
@@Thom-TRA making a video with Andy on track.
@@sammymarrco47 about BWI?
Hey I remember learning about NIST in engineering school- now I know how to get there!
In Toronto Go transit runs both trains and buses to various cities and towns around the GTHA (Greater Toronto Hamilton Area).
Very similar to Sound Transit in Seattle (though much more expansive)
Go transit uses a zone system for their fares so the longer your commute the more you pay. Although now if you transfer from Go transit to any of the local transit companies you don't pay a new fare if you use a debit card, credit card or Presto card. Going the other way you get the local fare deduction from the go transit fare.
I was about to say It sounds like GO transit but worse. GO has 40 trips on route 40 from Hamilton to Richmond Hill with a stop at the airport. Plus that's not the only orbital suburb express bus to Pearson airport that GO transit offers and many other non airport suburbs to suburb route.
@Thom-TRA do you have a plan to come to Toronto?
Man I would ride the hell out of this, what a useful route. One of the perks of Maryland having a statewide transportation agency, the coverage is good
At least between the cities, in the country it gets a little iffy
so the MTA commuter buses being contracted out (as opposed to a bus fleet) is why they don't have card readers and can't take SmarTrip
Another thorough video, Thom!
There's a broader point here and thank you for highlighting it - this is the kind of tasty treat one finds on a full-system map. Here in London, TfL has only published 'SpiderMaps' for specific local areas for some time now - it's as if they don't want you to explore and maximise your journey length for the price you pay - certainly, when bus fares became flat price and any zone of Travelcard could carry you anywhere on a bus, drivers were all given a script to recite about how using the tube for the equivalent journey would get you there faster \m/
Hey, Thom! Thank you so much for this video! I have used the transit services extensively throughout MD and DC in my earlier years, and yet, I had *NEVER* knew about the MTA 201 route. It kinda irked me a bit calling the system "fake MTA" because there really isn't anything fake about it. Sure, it can cause confusion with the New York MTA, and that's understandable. I usually call it MTA-MD. :) Otherwise, this route would DEFINITELY be a huge bonus for me and my family in case we wish to travel to Baltimore without having to worry about the ridiculous parking costs as well as save on the wear and tear over a nearly 200 mile round trip from our home in Central PA. Kudos to all you do, and looking forward to more content from you! :)
You don’t have to get irked by the word fake. It's an internet joke when a lesser-known thing has the same name as a more famous thing, to call it "fake." It says nothing about whether it exists or not.
The BWI Trail is great- pretty crowded for cyclists and pedestrians alike. Also good for plane watching if you're into that. I do wish that it had better connections to the surrounding areas so it could be used more for bike commuting than just pleasure cycling.
The Burtonsville park and ride has been slated for some TOD for years, so hopefully that comes along. It's also an important bus station for buses to the DC area and Columbia. I was in high school when the ICC was being built and as a local I was NOT a fan. But now that it's here at least I guess it's good that it facilitates rapid bus routes across the county. Would have loved to see a bus station at each major junction on the ICC and a local development/town center.
More development would be great. I’d love to see the plans for Burtonsville.
I think for the cost and controversy of the ICC a more frequent bus service is more than justified.
I actually grew up taking this route from shady grove to either baltimore or arundel mills mall around once a month. As a kid it always surprised me how many ppl rode that bus because i use to never pay any thought to commuter buses
I had no idea about buses like this until living in flint, Michigan. And commuting back to Detroit.
Now they just launched a bus between downtown Detroit and the airport!
The out door bench looking thing used to be pay phones
Oh interesting. What a strange place for pay phones.
I'm a commuter bus user myself, taking an NJ Transit bus to NYC that uses the famed Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) to the Lincoln Tunnel
So you travel through PABT a lot then?
Annapolis should have All Day service to/from at Least Glen Burnie and Largo, although DC-Union, BWI, and Baltimore Greyhound would be better
They do have all day service to Glen Burnie, it's just a slow BaltimoreLINK bus
Via US50, I'd hope?
There used to be an MTA commuter bus route (921) that ran between Annapolis and New Carrollton. When the MTA discontinued it, a private company stepped in to offer it for a while but they couldn't make it viable without support from any local jurisdictions. But the 921 used to run on weekends, as well.
Hi Thom! I just wanted to say that I think it’s funny that I made a (much lower quality) video about this exact same bus route a couple months ago!
Hey Nathan! In my opinion, UA-cam isn’t about quality as much as it is about enjoying what you do. Which, based on the videos of yours that I’ve seen, you clearly do!
Do you live in the DC area?
@@Thom-TRA Thanks! I do live in the DC area, yes.
Tho other day, I learned of the Hudson Link system in New York, which is a cross county commuter bus between Rockland and Westchester counties, running over the Tappan Zee bridge. A few routes run half hourly service all day, plus additional peak service. And it uses coach busses. Looks to be a pretty okay system, though I've never ridden on it as I don't live in the area.
Would you believe it if I told you I learned about that exact bus earlier today?? Now I want to ride it
A. I've got to get back to N. Beach this summer B. THIS explains why I see so many of these buses around 295 and other routes.
remember when amtrak had overhead wire issues and I had to take a CoachUSA bus back to NJ. it was surprisingly comfortable and fast.
Brilliant video, good to see Lyndsey keeping another eye on you!
In the SF Bay Area AC Transit runs commuter service from various neighborhoods in Oakland and San Leandro to and from Salesforce Transit Center in SF. The routes use the same letter route names as the Key System streetcars they replaced in 1958.
I like when bus systems pay homage to old rail systems. Even if keeping the rail would have been better!
i do remember the 201 used to be hourly between bwi and gaithersburg when it first came. in the early days it did not stop at arundel mills or baltimore greyhound, those came later due to demand. i don't know when the the frequencey was cut down but it doesn't surprise me with how bad our transit system in the baltimore area is.
Wow I did *NOT* expect to see a video about this route. I use it to get into DC from BWI when the Amtrak is expensive and MARC schedules don't line up. I've never seen it too busy, but also don't ride it at peak hours.
One confusing point of the schedule is "special service days" get reduced service but it is not clear if this is for weather, holidays, or other special occasions (quoted from the schedule below):
Trips marked with “S” denote the “Special Service
Schedule.” On Special Service Days, only the trips
designated with the “S” will operate
Yeah I’m not sure how busy it gets during the peak. Or even what the peak is.
You’re right! Buses are awesome too, especially this one to get to BWI airport!
It’s just great that it exists as an alternative
A very interesting video as always
Gotta love some good old oddball bus routes!
Those are the most interesting!
I greatly enjoy all of your videos, Thom! Thank you for putting so much effort into these videos to make them fun and enjoyable!
You’re so welcome!
Construction of the ICC (MD 200) was conditional on public transportation options being created which utilized the road. One thing to note is that people taking the 201 bus can use the Park and Ride lots associated with this bus route for as long as they want. This means riders can park for free at their local Park and Ride and then take a trip from eithrt BWI or the BWI Amtrak station for weeks at a time and not worry about getting towed. Capping transportation expenses at $6/person is really cheap. I mean you cant drive from Gaithersburg to BWI for that. The driver will also place your luggage in the bus' cargo compartments underneath, so taking large pieces of luggage for a long trip is easy as well.
That’s why I think they should run it more often, since it’s such a good deal.
I enjoyed that video👍👍
Thank you for the video, Thom!
You're welcome!
I found the 201 bus to BWI to be convenient from Shady Grove station to the airport
It is convenient!
Awesome video!
I have been on the 201, thanks for the memories!
When I visited Baltimore and Washington DC last year, I didn’t want to take MARC or Amtrak between two cities, I found out about this route on Google Maps.
My best route would have been B30 but it remains suspended.
There are also Central Maryland RTA routes but they didn’t match my schedule at that time. When I wanted to try them the other day, there were canceled trips.
Why didn’t you want to take Amtrak or MARC?
I just wanted to try different modes. I was going back and forth between two cities, so I did ride the train as well. I also went to Annapolis, since it's easier to get there from Baltimore, and I am glad you also mentioned that in this video. On the same trip I intentionally flew into IAD instead of DCA (but leaving from BWI) in order to ride the Silver Line.
Gaithersburg mentioned 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 let’s goooooo
I really wish MTA would replace their on-peak only, relatively narrow commuter bus system (that often serves travelers that can drive, on a route that also offers rail) with a broader on- and off-peak system with farther reach. For example, Severna Park residents didn't need like the 7 daily departures to DC they had previously. They can just drive to Odenton, take the MARC, and have a faster trip. Spread the service out to more communities that actually NEED the service.
Another example of this would be CT transit 928. It’s an hourly express route that goes between Hartford and Waterbury. and is run with motor coaches. Additionally between Hartford and New Britain it runs along a BRT roadway
It has been way too long since I've been to Connecticut
@@Thom-TRA I would agree despite it only being five months for me
I live in Baltimore and I took 201 once, to a place in Rockville, on a Sunday. I really didn't want to drive that day. (As if you ever drove between Baltimore & DC, or have to use the Beltway, or even the 200 you mentioned, or worse yet, having to do both, you probably understand what I mean & good luck!) I'm glad it's there, especially on a Sunday. Although I wish the services, both the 201 itself, and the connecting services (such as the Baltimore light rail) are better, to make a better experience. :)
I’m sure not driving saved you a lot of stress!
Nice video!
Thanks!
some of the airport ending services should continue on to serve the freight parts of the airport.
Great video!
Thanks!
Last semester I took the 201 everyday; I live on moco and I study at umbc. It's very useful but I wished my college run more buses to BWI
Nice! Yeah, that area needs more buses
Excellent video!!! Thanks for bringing commute busses into the spotlight- these extensive long and medium distance bus lines COULD provide metropolitan areas with amazing suburban transit coverage to create accessible, inclusive, dense suburbs… if only they ran frequently and predictably in both directions😁 what a unique line! The schedule is so much more complex than I realized. Are there other commuter bus lines like this one here in the US?
Thanks! Doesn’t this video make you wanna ride it yourself someday? 😉
And that’s a great question. Let me look it up and get back to you!
Funny I used to take Pace Bus on I55 to Mich Ave downtown. I could ride to the bus stop put my bike on the rack and messenger in the loop take it back home at 2:45 pm just before rush. Comfy seats
I’m trying to figure out this 850/851/855 Combo thing that they have going on. It’s just a bus that stops at all stops along the route?
The NYC MTA used to use academy for 2 routes to Staten Island. Using their buses as well I believe
I believe Columbia university still uses Academy for a few routes
These buses are a rarity when it comes to public transpoort
I used to use VanGelder/Coach USA busses to get around Chicagoland/Indiana to OHare! It was such a great service until it got shut down in 2020.
Yeah I rode a few coach USA buses around Chicago myself when I was there!
While Coach USA ran the service, it was actually TriSTATE/United Limo. Van Galder did the Madison/Janesville/Rockford to O'Hare and Midway, while Wisconsin Ciach did the Milwaukee to O'Hare service. Both Van Galder and Wisconsin Coach Libes are Coach USA companies.
Before shutting down the Indiana service, that company was being serviced from the Chicago office where Megabucks also operates from .
@@mrAhollandjr I blame Indiana for a LOT of things that they dropped in the last decade. The Hoosier State was one of the biggest things they dropped the ball on, as well as bungling the Amazon deal in which Amazon would literally BUILD the transit system for employees and citizens alike. -shrug- Ah, well. Life goes on, I guess. :)
@@mrAhollandjr Thanks for the in depth info. I used the service to Rockford once as well. The walk from the air terminals to the bus terminal in the parking structure at O'Hare became my go to place to leave the airport before I started using the South Shore Line to Indiana. That's my current means of getting to/from Illinois and Indiana. Then I use CTA to/from either airport.
@@hawktb9 Gotta love the GOP. At least South Shore Line is expanding further South into Indiana. Soon, I'll be able to take the South Shore line from Dyer. Currently I have to pick it up or get off at East Chicago.
Nice video! I used to live near Rockville and took the 201 to BWI a few times. I really wish the MTA buses were branded though, I think the current system is confusing branded buses would help occasional users understand the system.
Yeah just slap a Maryland flag on them. Makes them look more professional too. Especially in DC where there are already so many private coaches.
Thanks!/Dank je! I've taken 201 a few times. WMATA used to run route B30 from Greenbelt to BWI.
Where are you off to next?
Bedankt! I’m actually on the Amtrak Capitol Limited right now! First time in a room
Thanks for this video Thom. I retired from WMATA and moved to Orlando, a few years ago but I still come up to the DC area often as my daughter lives in Rockville right at the Twinbrook Metro station. I now know there’s an option from the Shady Grove Metro station to go over to BWI. The question I would have is how long did it take you to get from Shady Grove to BWI? And if the headways are two hours apart, it might still be more advantageous to take the red line downtown to Union Station and then take Amtrak or MARC to BWI train station.
It took us about an hour between the two
Really wish metro would connect to MTA for example greenbelt extends to Bwi which connects to the light rail and east way for Baltimore and Dc to connect there without driving
I don't know if it's still the case. But back around 2010ish or so, I used to bus from New Carleton (End of the Orange line) to downtown Annapolis Md.
I don’t think they stop in New Carrollton anymore
@@Thom-TRA Of course not, that would make too much sense! Back then, New Carleton had a mini bus station with about 10 outdoor covered little waiting stations that were nicely lit and posted with schedules. It was very helpful. So naturally, the continuity between trains and bus lines had to end. To have the ability to use public transport to function in a modern state is unthinkable.
I realized that Amtrak are for single person . If you travel as 3 ,it’s better to take a Lyft .
never seen/heard of a bus with this type of route and this look
You have now!
I just might use this to get to BWI! I didn't realize this was an option!
You should!
Fun fact! Omniride goes as far south as Spotsylvania County and (the last I heard) they're planning service as far west as Front Royal!
Wow! Then we can all take the bus to visit Christendom College lol
Some of the quirks in the 201 schedule with Dorsey station stem from the fact that, in addition to serving commuters who may want to park at Dorsey and ride to Montgomery County during normal commuting hours/directions, MTA also tries to advertise the 201 as an additional option to get home outside of service hours for MARC Camden Line riders who took the train into DC for the day but then need to get home earlier or later than Camden Line service runs. MARC passes are valid on the 201 (only between the BWI Amtrak/MARC station and Dorsey station) for this purpose, so riders can catch a Penn Line train to BWI and then transfer to the 201 (back toward Montgomery County) to complete the trip back to Dorsey. I've always wondered how many people actually do this.
Right, i saw that note about the passes on the schedule as well. But then wouldn’t it make more sense to just always stop there? This bus hardly adds any flexibility.
Exactly - who is realistically going to look to see which buses actually stop there and actually manage to time it just right? It doesn't seem like something very many people would rely on regularly.
Thom, on the 201 loo tour was a sign 'man sitting' & 'X-over man standing'. Since it's been years since I've been on a bus with facilities... And, the sign makes perfect sense for maintaining cleanliness!
Having never seen this before, just wondering how common it is in your experience, both here in the States or where you've traveled overseas?
My apologies that this is my biggest takeaway from the video! lol
It really wasn't! I always enjoy your transit storytelling.
Don’t worry, there’s a reason I showed the sign! I hoped it would be a conversation starter.
I haven’t seen the sign too much, but I feel like it’s pretty common on coach buses. And in my house growing up it was an unwritten rule. My parents always knew!
In Oakland-SF, Monterey Bay Area and Houston we have commuter coaches. Some even came with toilets. The private carriers in this video are acting as one.
Thom - If you want better commuter buses where i’m from I suggest you check out these routes
CT Transit - Route 920 or the I Bus
NJT - 319 to Atlantic City from New York Port Authority
NJT - 139 to Lakewood (i think there’s a bus museum there if i’m not mistaken)
NJT 355 to American Dream Mall
HudsonLink Bus (formerly Tappan Zee Express)
Thanks for the tips!
Here in Los Angeles we have commuter Express buses
2:04 I approve of the large Australian flag on the OEB. Former DC resident from Australia.
They had Japanese flags recently too for the summit with the PM!
Thanks for commenting!
-A current DC Resident from the Netherlands
Will any of these Maryland commuter bus routes get canceled when the purple line opens? That might free up money for improvements to other services and new routes. I have an idea about where a new route is desperately needed, but I need to do a little more research on it before I share it.
I don’t think any of them overlap with the purple line. The purple line is connecting DC near suburbs, these buses go outer suburb to downtown.
Super
super duper
@@Thom-TRA you very welcome. Thanks for your videos.
They discontinued coach USA airport shuttle for Indiana due to COVID to both airports in Chicago and to airport in south bend Indiana
I wonder if those commuter coaches have toilets on them?
Check out the 11:02 mark
I like how that bus company has a special route even though it’s for a reasonable price. I saw a news channel vid on the buses that were being used at Atlanta airport which I haven’t talked about yet. The shuttles that are used in place of Marta trains run between there and college park because the Airport Marta stop is closed until May 19th for construction. That meant they used a variety of different looking buses such as motor coaches, special airport shuttles, vans, etc. I never went there and saw it but I have no plans to do so or else it’d probably be fun.
How civilized
Hi Thom,
What is this thing you call “bus”?
Sincerely,
Bethesda, MD dweller
P.s. loved the “fake” MTA phrase. Did you know that Marylanders invented the MTA? Even before New York existed? 😅 just kidding. Prepare for some angry fan mail :-)
Don’t mess with New York transit fans! Bethesda won’t be big enough…
Hey thom I enjoyed the video. Let me know if you ever want to do a collaboration on a video.
Thanks! Are you MD-based?
@@Thom-TRA yes I live along the Marc Brunswick line
Anyone else notice Amtrak 164
I do, it is the Phase IV heritage unit
Not enough people ride it though. 😭
These are not on bus youtube
Also your saying arundel wrong it's a run del
I don’t trust someone who doesn’t know how to spell. Also what am I supposed to imply from you writing Arundel with spaces in between?
@@Thom-TRA Even Google gets the local pronunciation wrong for Arundel. Knowing you're not from this area you wouldn't know that we generally say 'uh-run-dull'. If you look at the Anne Arundel County wiki page the 'listen' button there is accurate.
Also, don't forget that Arundel Mills also has MD Live! Casino in case you want to lose some money!! lol Thanks for the great video about something in my home state that I never knew about. Have a great day.
@@chriscubingclips see, you writing “uh-run-dull” is helpful. The original commenter just wrote “a run del” and expected people to know what he meant.
No fair I never got first comment, gotta try again :(
Gotta be quicker!