Columbia, Maryland has seen a remarkable transformation in its public transportation infrastructure over the years. The Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan, developed by the Maryland Transit Administration and the Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan Commission, is a 25-year plan that sets out goals, objectives and initiatives to improve transportation services, support the economy and reduce environmental impacts. Currently, Columbia has six Howard Transit bus routes that connect it to nearby areas such as Ellicott City. In addition, several MTA routes provide access to and from Washington and Baltimore.
The Central Maryland Transit Development Plan guides transportation services in Central Maryland, including Anne Arundel, Howard Counties, Northern Prince George's County and the City of Laurel. The Office of Transportation and the Columbia Association have also conducted a study to explore the feasibility of implementing a bike-sharing system program in the county, known as BikeHoward. Moreover, the Washington subway system serves the District of Columbia and its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. However, it has recently experienced a series of derailments with its 7000 series trains.
