After 6 p.m. and on weekends, those who rely on Harford County's public transit system cannot catch a bus ride anywhere.

The nine bus routes that crisscross the county stop running at the end of the day and at the end of the workweek.

That will change as early as July 1, when Harford Transit Service, the county's public transportation agency, adds two new 20-seat buses and begins evening and Saturday hours. With some pre-arrangement, a passenger might be able to travel from Darlington to an event in Bel Air or to an evening class at Harford Community College.

At the county's annual transportation forums, many residents have asked for more routes in the rural areas, bus shelters and evening and weekend service.

A $173,473 federal grant and a $117,507 county match will help to fulfill part of those requests. The money will pay for the purchase of two buses and operating costs, including the hiring of at least two additional drivers, said Michael Hannan, Harford Transit's administrator. Initial plans call for running buses from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weeknights and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

"This service will open new avenues for people," Hannan said. "It will be a great opportunity for many residents."

The buses will operate as an on-demand service that primarily will assist the county's disabled riders, as well as seniors and low-income wage-earners. Passengers can request curb-to-curb service a day ahead and get a ride from home to Harford Community College, a health clinic or a library event. With a referral from an employer or Social Services, a worker can arrange transportation to a job. Seniors can make an appointment to go shopping at Harford Mall.

"These will not be fixed routes with regular stops," Hannan said. "These buses will go off established routes."

Winning the funding, for which the county competed with other jurisdictions across the state, was a real breakthrough, Hannan said.

"If this does well, we should go to fixed routes and maybe add Sundays," he said.

Doing well would mean attracting a minimum of five passengers an hour, he said.

For the third consecutive year, ridership has increased on Harford's public transportation system, rising to nearly 300,000 passengers in 2007. The service operates nine bus routes, mostly along the Route 22 and Route 40 corridors in Harford's southern and central areas, on an annual budget of nearly $6 million.

Public transportation will play a significant role in the coming influx of jobs and families to Aberdeen Proving Ground, as part of the nationwide base realignment known as BRAC, officials said.

Growth at the base could lead to an increase in ridership, possible Sunday hours and the creation of more cross-county routes. The transit company's long-range plans include a route over the Susquehanna River into Cecil County.

"The Maryland Transit Administration is referring to BRAC in its transportation planning," Hannan said. "If changes are to come on our routes, they will come out of those plans."

mary.gail.hare@baltsun.com