As an urban institution in highly connected downtown Baltimore, learn about the ways you can travel to and from UMB’s campus sustainably.
The Office of Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) and the Office of Sustainability at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) aim to help students, faculty, and staff reduce their impact on the environment by promoting a variety of sustainable transportation programs. When we reduce our reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve public health and equity. This not only helps us to improve the quality of life of our University community, but also our neighbors. Do you know about all of the sustainable transportation options available to you? Read below to learn more!
A Maryland law provides free ridership services for all permanent (regular) University System of Maryland faculty and staff members on Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) systems. Permanent (regular) status UMB faculty and staff can use the light rail, Baltimore Metro Subway, local bus service, and Baltimore regional commuter and express bus service lines (120, 150, 210, 215, 310, 320, 410, 411, and 420) at no charge by presenting their pass in the CharmPass mobile app.
Students, postdocs, graduate research/teaching assistants, and Contingent I and II employees can learn more about their options for reduced cost MTA passes on the PTS website.
The UMB shuttle provides bus routes that travel to the neighborhoods of Mount Vernon, Federal Hill, and Canton/Fells Point. The shuttle is free for students and $1.75 per ride for faculty, staff, affiliates, and postdocs.
This convenient and affordable program allows UMB employees to benefit from pre-tax savings along with the convenience of using the MTA Charm Mobile app to ride MARC trains. MARC has lines from Penn Station and Camden Yards that travel to destinations including Washington, D.C., BWI Airport, College Park, and Bowie.
Bike racks are located throughout campus at most of the schools, garages, and the University of Maryland Medical Center. For secure parking, the Pratt Street Garage has a bike cage, and the Baltimore Grand Garage has a bike room. The bike cage and bike room require membership and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for University faculty, staff, students, and affiliates. Individuals holding memberships for the bike cage or room may use the shower facility at URecFit in the SMC Campus Center for free. For a map of bike parking and fix-it station locations, visit the UMB Campus Sustainability Map.
We also have created a UMB Bike Commuters Teams site. This space can be used to discuss the best bike routes for getting to and from campus, find a commute buddy, and more. The Teams site will be an informal meeting place for all students, staff, and faculty — from those who are new to biking or only beginning to consider it as an option to experienced cyclists. Join the community on Teams here. Please note: If you are from the School of Medicine, send a request to join this team to sustainability@umaryland.edu.
Walking is one of the easiest ways to get to and around UMB’s campus quickly. Click on the link above for a map of campus walking paths.
There are many benefits to carpooling, including cost savings, preferred parking spots, and a reduction in negative environmental impacts. You can find information on the carpooling program for faculty and staff using this link. You can find information on the student carpooling program using this link. Whether student, faculty, or staff, did you know you can use the UMB Rideshare website to find a commute buddy?
Additionally, employees who carpool to work in the Baltimore region now qualify for a $5 daily incentive through the new Baltimore Commutes Carpool Program! This 90-day special incentive program is funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation and administered by Commuter Connections to encourage Baltimore-area commuters to start or join a carpool. You can learn more about the carpool incentive using this link.
Provided by Commuters Connections, UMB Guaranteed Ride Home program provides commuters with a FREE and reliable ride home up to four times per year via cab or rental car. You can use Guaranteed Ride Home for unexpected emergencies such as personal illness or a sick child, or unscheduled overtime.