Columbia, Maryland

Designed as a planned community in the late 1960’s, Columbia is an unincorporated city in Howard County,
located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It is usually considered part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
However, because so many residents work in Washington, D.C., Columbia is sometimes considered an
outlying part of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.

Unlike many suburbs, Columbia was intended as a walking community, consisting of nine villages: each with a village center, and several neighborhoods within each village. Each neighborhood has a neighborhood center with an elementary school, outdoor pool, and (originally) a convenience store.

While later development focused on big-box shopping centers that are primarily car-accessible,
a public transit system—now operated by Howard County and called Howard Transit—makes it possible for Columbia residents without cars to reach these shopping centers. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) provides excellent commuter service to Washington, D.C. (and limited service to Baltimore).

The hub of Howard Transit buses is the Columbia Mall, which serves as both a regional shopping center and the commercial hub of Columbia’s downtown. Lake Kittamaqundi, across Little Patuxent Parkway from Columbia Mall, has a walking path, the central branch of the Howard County Library, a post office, and several restaurants.

Because of the extensive system of walking and bike paths around Columbia, the community dedication to preserving open space, and the original design of nine villages, Columbia can be a good choice for someone looking for a home in the Baltimore/Washington area who doesn’t want to own a car.

My wife and I lived in Columbia for nearly 30 years. While we owned a car, we walked to the grocery store,
a nearby lake, houses of worship, and even the Columbia Mall. When our car broke down for nearly three
months in 1998, we walked or took transit to nearly any place we wanted to go.
The exceptional commuter bus system makes it easy to work in Washington (and, to a lesser extent, Baltimore) without driving.

Where is public transportation available?
Bus service is available within all nine of Columbia’s villages. The best service is available near village centers, which have grocery stores and local shopping.
Seven of Columbia’s villages have public transit seven days a week.
River Hill has limited service that only operates during peak hours Monday-Friday on the Blue Route.
Dorsey Search has bus service Monday-Saturday on the Yellow Route.
Service from Columbia Mall, and Owen Brown to Savage and Laurel is available Monday-Saturday on Connect-A-Ride’s E route.
Direct bus service to BWI Airport and the Baltimore Light Rail is available, everyday, from Columbia Mall, on the Silver route.
Commuters to Washington can use Maryland Transit Authority’s 915, 929, or 995 Flyer buses from the Columbia villages of Harpers’s Choice, Wilde Lake, River Hill, Hickory Ridge, Oakland Mills, Owen Brown, or Long Reach.

The 929 operates all day, Monday-Friday, and has one round trip to the Silver Spring subway station on Saturday.
Baltimore commuters have direct peak-hour service from Harper’s Choice, Wilde Lake, and limited direct service from Oakland Mills and Owen Brown on MTA’s 311 (although state budget restrictions may eliminate the 311). Howard Transit’s Gold route takes Oakland Mills and Long Reach residents to the Snowden Park and Ride lot, connecting to MTA’s 310 and 311 to downtown Baltimore.

Howard Transit’s Brown, Green, Orange, Red, and Silver routes operate seven days a week.
The villages of Harper’s Choice, Wilde Lake, Hickory Ridge, King’s Contrivance,
Long Reach, Oakland Mills, and Owen Brown have seven-day bus service.

The older villages and neighborhoods are the best choice for car-free living, because of the easy walk to village centers plus available public transportation (both Howard Transit and commuter buses—especially to Silver Spring and Washington, D.C.).
Elementary schools are within a short walk of all of these neighborhoods (except Town Center).

Here are a few highly recommended neighborhoods for living without a car:
· Bryant Woods:
The oldest neighborhood in Columbia, in Wilde Lake, Bryant Woods is an easy walk from the Wilde Lake
Village Center and the Columbia Mall. Several walking paths, the Columbia Swim Center, and the Interfaith Center (where several churches are housed) are within a short walk. Howard Transit’s Green route, and MTA commuter routes (311 to Baltimore, and 929 to Silver Spring and Washington) stop along Twin Rivers Road.
Housing ranges from single-family homes to townhouses, condominiums, and apartments.

· Swansfield:
Located in Harper’s Choice within walking distance to both Harper’s Choice and Wilde Lake Village Centers,
Howard County General Hospital and Howard Community College, this older neighborhood includes affordable apartments condominiums and townhouses, as well as single family homes. Florence Bain Senior Center and Columbia Athletic Club are within walking distance. Howard Transit’s Green and Orange routes serve Swansfield. MTA’s 311 and 929 Flyer are a short walk away.
I lived in this neighborhood for nearly 12 years–nearly 5 of these years without owning a car. I found it
was easy to walk to grocery stores, other shopping, the Columbia Swim Center, and the many concerts and
films at Howard Community College. Even the Columbia Mall was only 1/2 hour walk away.

· Stevens Forest and Talbot Springs:
Located in Oakland Mills, these two neighborhoods are a short walk from Oakland Mills Village Center, the
Meeting House (a worship facility for many faiths), neighborhood pools, the Columbia Ice Skating Rink, and several walking and biking trails. A pedestrian overpass across Route 29—the main highway in Columbia—from Talbott Springs, gives residents access to the Columbia Mall, the Central Library, and the many attractions of Town Center and Lake Kittamaqundi. A wide range of housing and an exceptionally active community association are other benefits.
Howard Transit’s Brown and Gold routes and MTA’s 929 and 995 Flyer commuter routes to Washington serve these neighborhoods.

· Dasher Green:
My family lived in this Owen Brown neighborhood for nearly 17 years. This neighborhood has an exceptionally good selection of townhouses, plus apartments, single-family homes, and a senior community near the Owen Brown Village Center.
Within a short walk are the Owen Brown Village Center, tennis courts, the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library, an interfaith center, Lake Elkhorn with a walking and bike path around the lake, soccer fields,and—for those wanting a longer walk—the Supreme Sports Club with a fitness center and pool.
Dasher Green has exceptional public transportation. Howard Transit’s Brown route, Connect-A-Ride’s E route to Savage and Laurel, and MTA commuter routes 311 (to Baltimore) and 929 Flyer (to Silver Spring and Washington).

· Town Center:
This unofficial village (not one of the original nine) is the only one that does not have its own village center andsupermarket. However, its many condominiums are within an easy walk of Columbia Mall, Lake Kattamuqundi and (a few minutes longer walk) the Howard County Central Library. All Howard Transit routes stop at the Columbia Mall.
The Red route, and MTA’s 929 Flyer stop on Little Patuxent Parkway and Vantage Point Road.

How easy is it to use Public Transportation for Everyday Needs?
It’s fairly easy to get most places in Columbia, and to major shopping areas on Route 40 in Ellicott City (the Yellow bus goes to Ellicott City every day except Sunday). The Long Gate Shopping Center, Laurel Mall, and BWI Airport are all accessible by bus.
Know the schedules (most routes operate hourly) and plan accordingly.
Commuting on MTA express buses to jobs in Washington, D.C.is exceptionally easy!

If someone without a car wants to visit, where should they stay?
The Sheraton in Town Center is within an easy walk of Columbia Mall and other downtown Columbia amenities.
All Howard Transit routes (except the Purple which doesn’t serve Columbia) stop at Columbia Mall.
The 929 Flyer stops at Little Patuxent Parkway and Vantage Point Road.

How easy is it to commute without a car?
It’s extremely easy to commute to Washington, D.C. from most villages in Columbia.
Commuting to Baltimore is easy from Harper’s Choice and Wilde Lake (Check with the MTA
to be sure the 311 commuter bus to Baltimore is still operating).
Commuting is also good for Oakland Mills and Owen Brown residents who can walk to Broken Land Parkway.Howard Transit’s Silver Line connects to the BWI commuter rail station, and the Connect-A-Ride E route stops a block from the Laurel station.
Within Howard County, Howard Transit buses offer express service to the Howard County Office Building in Ellicott City.
Regular Howard Transit routes serve many employment centers within Howard County.
However, a transfer at Columbia Mall may be required, making the commute longer than ideal.

Is biking a realistic option?
Columbia has an extensive network of bike and walking trails. Cycling is easy here, especially because most of the bike paths are not along roads. At the present time, bicycles are not allowed on Howard Transit, Connect-A-Ride, or MTA commuter buses.

Would you recommend your city or area to retirees without cars?
Rretirement housing options range from apartments to assisted living. Neighbor Ride (410/884-7433)
offers free transportation to seniors. Several retirement communities are close to Howard Transit bus stops.
The Florence Bain Center, in Harper’s Choice, offers a wide range of services for older adults.

What You Need to Know

City or Region: Columbia, Maryland
Population: 92,079

Transit Provider: Howard Transit
Phone Number: (800) 270-9553 or (301) 725-4466
Customer Service Phone Hours: Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Web Site: www.howardtransit.com

Days and Hours Transit Service Operates:
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. — 7 p.m.

Transit Provider for Commuter Bus Service: Maryland Transit Administration
Phone Number: Toll-free 1/866/RIDEMTA, or (410) 539-5000.
Web Site: www.mtamaryland.com
Customer Service Hours: Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWT) is served by Howard
Transit’s Silver Route, seven days a week

BWI Rail Station, served by both MARC commuter trains and Amtrak, is
served by Howard Transit’s Silver Route, seven days a week.

Other Local, Regional, and Intercity Transit Providers:
Contact Howard County Commuter Solutions: (410) 313-3030, or,
www.howardcommutersolutions.com/contact/default.asp