The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) launched Express BusLink on Monday — the first new service offered as part of BaltimoreLink.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced the $135 million transit improvement plan in October 2015 to create an integrated transit system that is easy-to-use and better connects people to jobs, entertainment centers and other transit modes. Express BusLink will greatly improve suburb-to-suburb connectivity.

MTA’s three new Express BusLink routes — 102, 106 and 107 — now provide significantly faster connections from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall) MARC Train station to Old Court Metro Subway Station; from Owings Mills to Towson; and from Towson to White Marsh.

“Baltimore has desperately needed a comprehensive, regional transit plan that helps alleviate downtown congestion by opening up the transit grid and that connects people to emerging job centers,” said MTA Administrator/CEO Paul Comfort. “That is why updating our regional transit system with Express BusLink service is key. Express BusLink is an important new service that will link people to where they need to go.”

Additionally, the existing Express Bus Route 150 that connects Columbia to downtown Baltimore City has been extended to connect to the growing job center of Harbor East. Also starting Monday, the MTA is providing additional peak-period trips on Local Bus No. 77 line, which also runs between Old Court Metro Subway Station and BWI Marshall.

These direct suburb-to-suburb connections will improve access to regional job centers as well as speed the ride for many commuters. For example, the new Express BusLink will reduce the two-hour ride from White Marsh to Towson to approximately an hour.