TransIT facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Transit Services
of Frederick County

Headquarters	1040 Rocky Springs Road
Locale	Frederick, Maryland
Service area	Frederick County
Service type	bus service, paratransit, commuter services
Routes	14
Fleet	33 buses
Web site	Transit Services

TransIT is the main public bus service in Frederick County, Maryland. It is run by the local county government. TransIT helps people get around Frederick County by offering different types of bus services.

They have 9 main bus routes called "Connector" routes, mostly in the city of Frederick. They also run 5 smaller shuttle services. For seniors and people with disabilities, TransIT offers a special "demand-response" service, meaning they can arrange a ride when needed.

TransIT buses also connect you to other public transport in the area. You can link up with MTA Maryland's commuter buses (like routes 204 and 515) and the MARC Train service. In 2012, about 909,800 trips were taken on TransIT buses!

TransIT Services was created by combining two older bus systems: the Trans-Serve Frederick County shuttles and the Frederick City Transit lines.

Most Connector bus routes run from Monday to Friday. Some routes (10-65) also offer service on Saturdays. TransIT buses do not run on Sundays. During busy times on weekdays, many routes have buses every 30 minutes. At other times, buses usually come once an hour.

Paying for Your Ride: Fares

It costs money to ride the bus, and this is called a fare. In June 2014, a single bus ride for most people cost $1.50.

You can also buy a monthly pass for $45.00. This lets you ride as much as you want for a whole month.

Special Discounts

• Students and Youth: If you are a student or young person, you don't get a discount on a single ride. However, you can buy a monthly pass for a lower price of $30.00.
• Seniors and Disabled Persons: Seniors and people with disabilities pay less for a single trip, only $0.60. Their monthly pass also costs $30.00.

You can also buy a pass for 10 trips.

• For most people, a 10-trip pass costs $12.00.
• For students and youth, it's $8.00.
• For seniors and disabled persons, it's $5.50.

If you need to switch from one bus route to another, transfers are free. Many routes are set up so you can easily transfer at the TransIT Center. This center is located at the city's downtown MARC train station.

If a bus needs to go a little off its usual path to pick someone up, there's an extra charge of $1.50. You also need to ask for this special stop at least 24 hours beforehand.

Bus Types: The Fleet

Two TransIT buses (Orion V #065 and Gillig Low Floor #981) heading toward the square in downtown Frederick in fall 2012.

TransIT uses different types of buses for its services. They have large buses for their main Connector routes. They also have smaller "cut-away" vehicles, which are like vans, used for shuttles and special TransIT+ services.

Buses are usually replaced every 14 years. This is the longest time a bus can be used by law in Maryland.

Currently, TransIT has 28 large buses and 35 smaller cut-away buses. They also use some minivans and cars for special needs services.

Past Buses: Former Fleet

When Frederick City first had its own bus system, they used old school buses! These buses were white and had rear exit doors.

Later, the city bought new buses in 1981. These were called TMC Citycruisers. They were 30 feet long and served the original Red and Blue bus routes. In 1987, they added one more bus, an Orion I, for a new White Route.

After TransIT Services was formed, they bought four new Orion V buses in 1994. These buses were green and white. For a short time, they even borrowed some buses from Maryland MTA while waiting for their new ones to arrive.

In 2001, TransIT ordered five Thomas Dennis low-floor buses. These buses are easier for people to get on and off. Because of delays, they used smaller, temporary buses called "Breadboxes" for a while. The low-floor buses arrived in 2002, and the Breadboxes were used until 2010.

Here is a list of some of the buses TransIT used in the past:

Year	Image	Manufacturer	Model	Length (ft)	Propulsion	Fleet series	Total
1976		Superior	Pioneer 40	40'	Diesel	101–102	2
1981		Transportation Manufacturing Corporation	Citycruiser	30'	Diesel	200–203	3
1987		Orion	Orion I	30'	Diesel	204	1
1994		Orion	Orion V	30'	Diesel	322–325	4
1997		Champion Bus Incorporated	Breadbox	25'	Diesel	246–248	3
1998						872–874	3
2002		Thomas Dennis	SLF-230	30'	Diesel	917–921	5
2003		Orion	Orion V	30'	Diesel	922–928	7
2004						060–066	7

Today's Buses: Current Fleet

In 2003 and 2004, TransIT bought more Orion V buses. By 2005, the very old Frederick City Transit bus (number 204) was sold. This meant the old blue and white bus colors were no longer seen.

In 2010, TransIT got six new Gillig Advantage buses. These replaced some of the older buses from the 1990s. These new buses had a simpler paint design.

Later, two more Gillig Advantage buses arrived. These were special because they were the first hybrid buses in the system. Hybrid buses use both diesel fuel and electricity, which makes them more fuel-efficient. They have a battery pack on the roof.

In 2015, TransIT ordered five all-electric Gillig Advantage buses. These buses run only on electricity and started service in June 2016.

In 2018, TransIT added six new hybrid ElDorado National E-Z Rider II buses. These replaced older buses that had problems or were damaged.

In late 2019, TransIT started getting four new K7M electric buses from a Chinese company called BYD. These buses began service in July 2020 and replaced the last few Orion V buses.

A temporary bus, #959, was added to help out until new buses arrive in mid-2021. These new buses will replace the 2010 Gillig Advantage buses, which are being retired early.

In June 2023, Gillig Advantage bus 981 was retired. More new ElDorado National EZ-Rider II buses are expected to arrive soon to replace others.

Here is a list of some of the buses TransIT uses today:

Year	Image	Manufacturer	Model	Length (ft)	Fuel type	Fleet Series	Total
2010		Gillig	Advantage Low Floor	30'	Diesel	981–986 (981 has been retired) 982-986 being replaces as new ENC buses arrive.	5
2011			Advantage Low Floor HEV	35'	Hybrid	157-158	2
2016		Complete Coach Works/Gillig	Advantage Low Floor ZEPS	35'	Electric	779-783	5
2018		ElDorado National	E-Z Rider II	32'	Diesel	956-958	3
2018		Champion	Defender	30	Diesel	959	1
2019		ElDorado National	E-Z Rider II	32'	Diesel	122-124	3
2020		BYD	K7M	30'	Electric	364-367	4
2024		ElDorado National	E-Z Rider II	32'	Diesel	39652-39653 & 39740 (three in service)	3

Bus Routes and Destinations

TransIT bus routes are numbered in a special way. The first number tells you which part of the city or county the bus goes to.

• Buses starting with 10 go outside of downtown.
• Buses starting with 20 go to South Frederick.
• Buses starting with 40 serve the west side of the city.
• Buses starting with 50 serve the west-to-southwest areas. They often share parts of the route with 40-line buses.
• Buses starting with 60 serve the north side.
• Buses starting with 80 serve the north to northwest side, including places like Ft. Detrick.

Routes that end in a "1" (like 51) are slightly different versions of their main route (like 50). These special routes started in 2013.

The number 65 Walkersville Connector is a bit different. It was added later when all other route numbers were already in use.

Currently, there are no bus routes that start with 30 or 70.

During busy "peak hours" (starting in 2014), buses on routes 20, 40, 50, 51, and 60 run every half-hour. These extra buses might have a "P" after their number, like "50P."

Here is a list of the current TransIT bus routes:

Routes No Longer Running

In early 1994, the original Red, Blue, and White routes from the old Frederick City Transit system were stopped. New TransIT routes replaced them: the #50 replaced the Red Route, the #40 replaced the Blue Route, and the #60 replaced the White Route.

In August 2012, Route 30 and Route 70 (Midtown Connector) were also discontinued. They were replaced by the new 50/51 and 60/61 routes.