LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County’s Department of Planning & Growth Management recently presented its Annual VanGO Transportation Plan for 2025, outlining the county’s transit funding request. While the budget includes millions in operational and capital assistance, it does not include new routes or additional buses for the coming year—despite confirmed increases in ridership.
Ridership Growth Without Service Expansion
County officials acknowledged that VanGO ridership has grown, largely due to the back-to-work requirement bringing more commuters back onto public transit. However, the proposed budget does not allocate funds for service expansion. Instead, the focus remains on maintaining the existing system, upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring continued reliability for current riders.
Understanding the Budget Request
The county’s grant application seeks funding from the Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) to help cover VanGO’s operational and capital costs. The funding request includes:
- $11.37 million for operating costs, with $6.35 million coming from federal and state sources.
- $6.85 million for capital improvements, which will fund:
- Preventive maintenance
- Replacement of three aging buses
- Repowering 13 buses to extend their lifespan
- A zero-emissions planning study
- Improvements to bus stops
- Construction of a new VanGO facility
Why No New Routes?
The budget proposal reflects anticipated cuts in capital assistance from MDOT MTA, making it challenging to introduce new services. The county is prioritizing bus replacements, repairs, and long-term planning for zero-emission transit options.
See the Planning & Growth Management PDF presentation here.
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