Queen Anne’s County Commissioners Adopt Five-Year Transportation Development Plan

The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners have adopted the Queen Anne’s County Ride Transportation Development Plan, a five-year roadmap designed to guide future improvements and potential expansion of public transportation services throughout the county.

The Transportation Development Plan, developed by KFH Group in partnership with the Queen Anne’s County Department of Aging and Transportation, reviews current County Ride services, identifies unmet transportation needs and establishes priorities for improving service over the next five years. The Maryland Transit Administration requires locally operated transit systems to complete a Transportation Development Plan every five years. The plan also serves as a basis for future annual transportation plans and transit funding applications.

Public input played an important role in developing the plan. A total of 143 responses were received through rider and community surveys conducted in August and September 2025. Respondents indicated that riders value County Ride and its drivers and that fare-free service encourages more frequent use. Many riders also rely on the service to maintain their independence and access medical appointments, shopping and employment. Among the needs identified were Saturday service, later weekday hours, increased frequency, more flexible door-to-door scheduling and clearer information about available services.

The overall goal of the plan is to increase ridership and productivity by making County Ride more visible, convenient, flexible and easier to use. Recommendations include simplifying routes, expanding service availability, strengthening regional connections, improving rider information and communication, increasing system visibility and improving bus stops and signage.

Over the five-year planning period, proposed improvements include changes to existing routes, expanded weekday hours, Saturday service, improved vehicle branding and bus stop signage, technology enhancements, a Kent Island microtransit pilot, a potential Kent Island weekend visitor shuttle, a Centreville connector and expansion of northern county service. Implementation of these proposed recommendations will be considered in phases and is dependent on available funding.

As part of efforts to improve efficiency and better match services with rider needs, the Department of Aging and Transportation is also preparing to begin a 30-day public comment period on a proposal to discontinue the existing Annapolis fixed route and replace it with door-to-door transportation to Annapolis for medical appointments two days per week.

Under the proposal, transportation to Annapolis for medical appointments would operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups, similar to the County Ride model currently used for Easton medical transportation. The existing Annapolis route operates Monday through Friday and averaged approximately three to six rides per service day during FY2026.

The Annapolis service proposal will be subject to the required public comment process before the service change moves forward.

The five-year plan is intended to strengthen and simplify existing County Ride service, expand availability and flexibility, improve local and regional connections, modernize the rider experience and position the system for future growth as funding becomes available.

You can watch the presentation given at the recent County Commissioner meeting here https://www.youtube.com/live/rGdC7DeguYA?si=FR7g0xqkvhKAToC3 and view the document from the presentation here https://www.qac.org/DocumentCenter/View/26411/P3

Queen Anne’s County Commissioners Adopt Five-Year Transportation Development Plan

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