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Job Access
St. Mary's Transit System (STS) operates Evening and Saturday bus
service under a grant funded program called Job Access. As of
August 20, 2006 Sunday Service will be provided
along the California / Great Mills Loop. This particular STS grant
initiative is unique to the Tri-County Council of Southern
Maryland and is also referred to as the Job Access / Reverse
Commute Program. This program provides transportation to
unemployed and underemployed individuals as a part of statewide
 Welfare-to-Work
initiatives. Services includes transportation in one direction
opposite the main flow of traffic. This service operates in
California, Great Mills, Lexington Park, Leonardtown, Loveville,
Mechanicsville, and Charlotte Hall. The funding is made up of a
combination of Federal , Transit Administration, St Mary's County
Department Of Social Services, St. Mary's County Board of County
Commissioner funds, and passenger fares. The ridership has
continuously increased: from approximately 700 riders per
month in FY 2000 to over 3,800 riders per month
in FY 2006. Since FY 2000, the total ridership for our Public
Transportation System has increased from 54,395 riders in FY 2000,
to over 300,000 riders.
Bus Advertising 
In September 2001 a
vendor was selected to solicit and provide exterior and interior
advertisements for local businesses. This award will generate
additional revenues for the various transit programs.
Since 2002, revenues generated
as a part of this initiative have increased from
approximately $1,200 per month to an estimated $3,000 per month.
In August 2011, a new vendor was selected who will also provide
interior bus advertising and bus wraps which we hope will
enhance revenues to over $4,000 - $5,000 per month. Those
interested in advertising on or in our buses may contact us
directly or our Cheseldine Management Consulting,
LLC representative Margaret Cheseldine at (301) 475-2272 (please
reference contract # SMC-11-DPWT-58660).
Demand/Response Although not yet approved for funding we have planned to implement another, more expansive, program designed to further meet the needs of County citizens who live in rural areas not served by Public Transportation. The plan provides for service from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M., Monday through Friday in five (5) rural areas of the County and will connect with existing STS Public Transportation. The five new routes will operate twelve (12) hours per day to provide citizens an opportunity to travel for employment, medical appointments and shopping. All routes may deviate within these routes to meet the specific transportation needs of the citizens in the service areas: Route #1-Ridge; Route #2-Piney Point; Route #3A- Breton Bay/Compton; Route #3B-Hollywood; Route #4-Colton’s Point/Chaptico; Route #5A-Mechanicsville and Route #5B-Golden Beach. Passengers request rides from a specific location at a certain time. This type of service is called "dial-a-ride." If you would like information on available carpools, vanpools or other general transportation resources in Southern Maryland, please contact the Tri-County Council at (301) 884-2144 or 1-800-SO-CLOSE.
An informational flyer has been prepared to assist individuals with finding available transportation options, to help citizens understand how to use the STS transit bus system; and to provide guidance on completing Paratransit applications for STS transportation. The flyer includes names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers in order to provide direct transportation assistance and to help determine program eligibility. Other transportation service providers are also provided to help address your mobility needs. For additional information on St. Mary's County americans with Disabilities, click here.
On October 25,
2007 the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) approved a 5-year
Transportation Development Plan (TDP) to improve
public transportation service in St. Mary's County. The Board of
County Commissioners unanimously supported the plan and directed
staff to begin implementing the service improvements and route
alternatives identified in the Plan. During the multi-year
implementation of the Plan, the MTA will continue to evaluate
the local STS transit system against Performance Standards that
were developed for all transit systems in the State of Maryland.
These standards include factors such as cost per vehicle hour,
cost per vehicle mile, cost per passenger trip, passenger trips
per vehicle mile and trips per vehicle hour. Our rural
community-based transit program will continue to accomplish an
essential mobility mission of the County, connecting people,
communities, workplaces, educational institutions, recreational
opportunities and many other essential destinations on a regular
and continuous basis.
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