Ridership soars on MTA Route 201 (Gaithersburg - BWI ICC Express)

[WMAveteran]

Atlantic Coast Charters posted ridership figures for Route 201 on its Facebook page: ridership for April 2012 was 6,038 which is a significant increase over the 1,491 passengers carried during April 2011.  The website also announced that MTA is developing a new wrap for Route 201 buses that will feature both BWI and Arundel Mills Mall (the casino opens on 6/6/2012).  In the meantime the buses will be operating in standard Maryland Commuter Bus white. 

As an example of the increased passenger loads I write to report my own experience on April 30, 2012 on D4500 coach 169C in standard Maryland Commuter Bus livery: departed from BWI Amtrak station at 4:00 pm with 3 passengers, 9 passengers embarked at BWI/Marshall airport, 3 passengers boarded at Arundel Mills Mall (15 total).  Two (2) passengers alight at Burtonsville P&R, 8 passengers alight at Shady Grove Metro and the rest alighted at Gaithersburg P&R.  This is a big change from the early days of the service when I was sometimes the only passenger.  I also noted that the drivers are now giving out MTA commuter bus receipts after the fare is paid.  Originally and until very recently you just gave the driver your money and there appeared to be no accountability, 

[Tritransit Area]

I didn't know that MTA Commuter Buses had a receipt program like NJT.  It's great to see that ridership has increased.  Is the trip any faster now that the new section of the ICC opened?

[WMAveteran]

I didn't know that MTA Commuter Buses had a receipt program like NJT.  It's great to see that ridership has increased.  Is the trip any faster now that the new section of the ICC opened?

@ Tritransit Area: The trip would definitely be faster if the stop at Arundel Mills and the Dorsey MARC station had not been added.  The MTA used the extra time saved by the extension of the ICC and the addition of a new P&R stop on Georgia Avenue to add service to these two new stops.  The original schedule called for a 1 hour and 15 minute trip between Gaithersburg and BWI without a stop at Arundel Mills.  The current schedule still calls for a 1 hour and 15 minute trip between Gaithersburg and BWI with a stop at Arundel Mills.  The schedule calls for a 1 hour and 23 minute trip between Gaithersburg and BWI on those afternoon trips that stop at both Arundel Mills and the Dorsey MARC station.  The MTA also altered the route to add a stop at NIST in Gaithersburg so the coach now takes Quince Orchard to Clopper/W. Diamond and then to I270.  I was riding a trip where a passenger boarded at NIST and alighted at the Dorsey MARC station.  Even with the changes the drivers alter the route to suit the passengers: I have been on trips where the driver, travelling from Gaithersburg, did not stop at Arundel Mills if no passengers requested the stop.  I have also been on trips from BWI where the driver did not stop at Burtonsville P&R or Georgia Avenue P&R if no passengers requested the stop.  I have been on some trips that made it from Gaithersburg P&R to BWI in one hour flat. 

[WMAveteran]

May 2012 ridership figures for Route 201: according to the Atlantic Coast Charters Facebook page, ridership figures continue to rise.  In May 2012, 6,532 passengers rode the route as opposed to the 2,396 passenger who rode in May 2011.  I look forward to seeing the June ridership figures once the casino opens at Arundel Mills. 

[WMAveteran]

 Ridership figures for June 2012: according to the Atlantic Coast Charters Facebook page June was another record month for Route 201 service which transported 6,697 passengers.  In June 2011 Route 201 transported 2,586 passengers.

[WMAveteran]

Rode Route 201 roundtrip between Gaithersburg P&R and BWI Thurgood Marshall on 8/4/2012 and 8/7/2012 and noticed that fare boxes have been installed on the coaches now.  This addition should certainly protect the drivers because prior to the installation of fare boxes they were targets for any thieves who wanted some quick cash, although I never heard of any robberies. 

[79MetroExtraMD]

Old school boxes or GFIs? They need to put the new fareboxes on these buses so that they can take smart cards.

[rideonrulez]

They have the old school "trust me" fareboxes. Out of my recent rides on the route 201, heres my ridership numbers:
08/01/12 6:00 trip-Gaithersburg to BWI Airport -Boardings: 4 Gaithersburg, 10 Shady Grove, 2 Georgia Ave, 2 Burtonsville.
08/01/12 19:00 trip-BWI Airport to Gaithersburg-Boardings: 11 BWI, 1 Arundel Mills.
08/04/12 15:00 trip-Gaithersburg to BWI Airport-Boardings: 2 Shady Grove, 3 Arundel Mills.
08/08/12 21:00 trip from BWI Airport to Gaithersburg-Boardings: 7 BWI Term. A, 4 BWI Term E.

If you ask me, it is catching on considering when I first started riding it, I would get a MCI coach to myself!

[79MetroExtraMD]

I've had times where I was the only person on the bus from Shady Grove to BWI Airport when it first came out. Sat right in the back and fell asleep. I knew it would eventually catch on.

[WMAveteran]

JULY 2012 RIDERSHIP FIGURES FOR ROUTE 201: Atlantic Coast Charters reported on its Facebook page that 6,718 passengers rode Route 201 during July 2012.  The numbers continue to increase but I think MTA could do a better job marketing the service.  When I was waiting for a Route 201 coach at BWI/Marshall recently there were about 10 people waiting for the B30 and only 2 waiting for 201 at Terminal A stop.  I noticed that the Metro stop sign for the B30 actually tells where the bus is going with all the stops listed including Greenbelt Metro.  The 201 stop only displays the route number and no destination information.  The display pylon at that location just advertises the "ICC Express" and does not list any destinations or station stops.  MTA should fix that quickly because I'm sure many B30 passengers would be better served by taking route 201 to the Red Line at Shady Grove on a restroom equipped coach with reclining seats where the driver handles your luggage.  Not to mention the fact that the 201 service is cheaper than the B30 service. 

[Nabinut]

I rode the 201 this morning and had about 10 people onboard for the trip. I agree with the idea of marketing the service. The only issue is that the time it takes to go from BWI to Shady Grove/Gaithersburg (1hr and 1hr15 minutes respectively) would in that time have the B30 rider halfway into Downtown D.C via the Green Line connection. The $1 savings wouldn't make up the time lost on riding the Red Line from Shady Grove into Downtown (more stops than the Green Line). It would make sense to let MTA take over the service using the MCIs and still keep the same level of service with 24 additional seats. 

[WMAveteran]

Indeed it may be quicker for passengers going to certain destinations in Washington DC to take the B30 but for those passengers actually heading for destinations on the west end toward the Shady Grove station of the Red Line, I believe the 201 would be faster. 

[WMAveteran]

Route 201 ridership figures for August 2012:  Atlantic Coast Charters reported on its Facebook page that total ridership was 7,341, "an all time high."  Ridership in August 2011 was only 3,860. 

[WMAveteran]

Route 201 ridership figures for September 2012:

Atlantic Coast Charters posted on its Facebook page that it "safely transported 7,008 passengers" on the 201 service from Montgomery County to Arundel Mills and BWI in September 2012 "compared to 3,966 last September (2011)."

[WMAveteran]

October ridership numbers are in from Atlantic Coast Charters for Route 201 service:  "Transported 7,288 passengers this October (2012) compared to 4,341 last October.  Thanks again for your support!"