Real-Time Bus Arrival Displays Coming to Select Montgomery County Ride On Bus Stops
MCDOT is installing real-time bus arrival displays at high-ridership bus stops and transit centers across the County.
The technology, referred to as ePaper and supplied by Connectpoint, is a digital display presenting real-time bus arrival information with an audio readout and text-to-speech button known as Falcon. MCDOT is currently implementing the screens at 100 bus stops across the County.
The real-time information displays will be installed in high-ridership bus stops and transit centers in Bethesda, Germantown, Rockville, Shady Grove, Silver Spring and Twinbrook. MCDOT expects to add more ePaper displays to high-ridership bus stops over the next few years.
MCDOT Ride On was recognized as a 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award winner for the implementation of the ePaper real time displays.
View the NBC 4 video to learn more.
MCDOT Celebrates the Completion of New Pedestrian Bridge in Silver Spring
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmember Evan Glass and MCDOT staff joined members of the Kemp Mill Civic Association on Thursday, Aug. 7, for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of a new pedestrian bridge in the Kemp Mill area of Silver Spring.
MCDOT designed and constructed the pedestrian bridge, which provides safe access over a tributary to the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River. The project better connects an existing walking path between Auth Lane and Kersey Road which was disrupted by a growing creek bed. While mostly dry, erosion over the years made the creek increasingly difficult to cross.
Completed in June, the pedestrian bridge will allow an easier crossing over the embankment that had been getting steeper.
Members of the Kemp Mill Civic Association advocated for the bridge project and added a memorial at the foot of the bridge for their late neighbor, Nicki Toys. The memorial will allow her children and friends to visit and remember the positive impact she had on their lives. Niki's late husband, Aaron Toys, and two of her three children were present at the event and took part in cutting the ribbon on the bridge.
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US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) In-Person Public Meeting to Be Held in Silver Spring on Thursday, Aug. 28
MCDOT is hosting a meeting in two parts starting at 6 p.m. The first hour will be a public meeting focused on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The topics, presentation and interactive feedback activities will be the same as the June 10 meeting. The second hour will be the Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting, which will focus on the preliminary design of the Flash BRT facilities on the corridor. The public is encouraged to attend both portions of the meeting that will be held at the Four Corners Ethiopian Evangelical Church located at 33 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring. A Spanish interpreter will be on-site.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via email to US29BRT@montgomerycountymd.gov by 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. All information provided will become a matter of public record. Public input is encouraged and may influence the final design of the project.
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Montgomery County Officials Remind Residents of School Bus, School Zone Laws as Students Return to School on Tuesday, August,
With nearly 160,000 students heading to 211 schools on Tuesday, Aug. 26, MCDOT and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) ask residents to plan extra travel time and be alert to school buses and children traveling to and from school.
The MCPD Central Traffic Unit will be across the County focusing on dangerous driving behaviors around school zones. The Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit will place speed cameras in and around schools with all school buses equipped with cameras to catch and fine drivers illegally passing stopped school buses.
Drivers in Maryland must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when the stop arm is extended, and the red lights are flashing. Drivers may not pass the bus from any direction until the stop signals are off and the bus is moving again. Motorists are not required to stop if the road is separated by a physical median such as dirt, grass or a barrier. Infractions captured by school bus cameras carry a penalty of $250 for each violation. Violators who are stopped by a police officer face a fine of up to $570 and three points on their driver’s license.
MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School program works to encourage and enable children to walk and bicycle to school safely through education, outreach and building safe infrastructure around schools. MCDOT is conducting walk audits at each County school. The projects include building safer walking paths and adding safer street crossings, with 15 projects completed last year. The studies make recommendations for improved crossings and fill sidewalk gaps.
Population Boom of Spotted Lanternflies Expected in Montgomery County
Montgomery County residents should prepare for a boom in the spotted lanternfly population over the next three to five years.
The invasive species, native to Southeast Asia, was first detected in the United States in eastern Pennsylvania in September 2014, and spread to Cecil County, Maryland, in October 2018. The insects were first spotted in Montgomery County in 2022 and have grown in population ever since.
MCDOT officials reassure residents that although the insects are a nuisance, they are not considered harmful. The spotted lanternflies feed from the sap of trees, but MCDOT officials say there is no cause for concern about long-term damage. Additionally, they do not sting or bite and they contain no known toxins so they should not harm any pets that try to eat them.
MCDOT encourages residents to learn how to recognize and safely dispose of spotted lanternfly egg masses. The insects lay their eggs starting in late summer and into early winter, so residents should be on the lookout. Spotted lanternflies lay their eggs in columns covered in gray putty. The columns can be an inch and a half or longer and can appear on trees, stones, or other flat surfaces. Residents should scrape the egg masses into a sealed bag and then smash them before disposing.
For more information on spotted lanternflies, visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture spotted lanternfly resource page.
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Registration is Open for MCDOT Sponsored Learn to Ride Adult Bike Classes in September
MCDOT will continue its series of fall classes to teach adults how to ride bicycles. The classes are open to residents 18-and-over who have never ridden a bike or who want to refresh their skills. Bikes will be provided. Advance registration is required to participate, and the cost is $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for WABA or Capital Bikeshare members.
The following bike classes will run from 9 a.m. to noon on:
Saturday, Sept. 7 (rain date 9/21)
Westfield Montgomery Mall (former Sears parking lot)
7101 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda
Saturday, Sept. 13 (rain date 9/27)
Davis Construction at Twinbrook Metro Center I
12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.
Sunday, Sept. 21 (rain date 10/15)
Upper County Recreation Center
8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg.
Saturday, Sept. 27 (rain date 10/11)
White Oak Community Recreation Center
1700 April Lane, White Oak.
Register for the above classes at waba.org/classes/#learntoride.
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Maryland Sales Tax 7-Day Holiday
Sales tax will be waived on certain items during Maryland's weeklong sales tax holiday running from Aug. 10-16.
Take the Ride On bus for your shopping trip.
Below is a list of Ride On bus routes that run to/from the following shopping centers:
- Bethesda's Westfield Montgomery Mall: Routes 6, 26, 42, 47 and 96.
- Gaithersburg Rio: Routes 54, 74 and Lime extRa.
- Gaithersburg Square: Routes 54, 55, 59 and 61.
- Rockville Town Square: Route 45.
- Westfield Wheaton Mall: Routes 4, 7, 8, 9, 34, 37, 38 and 48.
Montgomery County Vision Zero Steering Committee 2026 Work Plan Highlights New Safety Projects and Enforcement Initiatives
The Montgomery County Vision Zero Steering Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 Work Plan detailing the safety projects, campaigns and initiatives scheduled for the 2026 fiscal year running from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Vision Zero is a strategy aimed at eliminating all serious injuries and fatalities on County roadways. Each year, the Steering Committee updates its Work Plan to further the Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan and continue making the roads safer for everyone.
The Vision Zero Work Plan advances projects listed on the High Injury Network (HIN). These roadways were identified as the areas at the highest risk for serious injuries and fatalities.
View the Vison Zero press release.
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Montgomery County Council to Hold Public Hearing on Leasing of Space for EV Charging at Seminary Road Parking Lot 12 and the Colesville Commuter Lot 14 in Silver Spring on Tuesday, Sept. 9
The County Council will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the leasing EV charging sites at MCDOT's Seminary Road Parking Lot 12 and Colesville Commuter Parking Lot on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 1:30 p.m. The deadline to sign up to speak is Monday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
MCDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plan to enter into a 10-year lease agreement with a private entity, Francis Energy, to install and operate DC fast charge EV stations at two County-owned sites: Public Parking Lot 12, located at 1920 Seminary Road in Silver Spring and at the Colesville Commuter Lot located at 13504 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring.
Francis Energy will install, operate, and maintain the EV charging equipment (at no cost to the County) at the two proposed EV charging sites. The County will be compensated the greater of: (i) $3,500 per year or (ii) 2.5% of the gross revenue collected from the sale of electricity from the charging stations to electric vehicle customers.
The EV charging station infrastructure will be open to the public. Both Parking Lots are currently underutilized, generating minimal annual revenue. MCDOT is seeking to lease fourteen (14) existing public parking spaces, or approximately 2,150 square feet, as part of an effort to expand EV Charging Stations in the County. In exchange for the parking spaces, the vendor will provide EV Charging Station infrastructure that will be open to the public.
For more information see the Council resolution here.
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Rustic Roads Advisory Committee Accepting Applications Through Wednesday, Sept. 3
County Executive Marc Elrich is seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee for several seats. The committee is seeking one member who knows roadway engineering through practical experience and training; one public at-large member who is a frequent user of rustic roads; and one local farmer who is an operator of commercial farmland earning 50 percent or more of their income from direct involvement in commodity farming.
Rustic Roads are classified as rural roads and are historic and scenic roadways in an area where natural, agricultural or historic features are predominant. Most Rustic Roads are narrow, follow historic alignments and are considered low volume roads intended primarily for local or agricultural use.
There are 112 Rustic Roads in Montgomery County that are preserved and maintained by MCDOT.
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Public Invited to Free Family Bike Festival in Rockville on Sunday, Sept 14
The Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) is hosting the first-ever Montgomery County Family Bike Festival, which will be held at the Rockville Town Center in Downtown Rockville from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees can take a test ride on an electric or cargo bike, participate in bike decorating and a parade, learn bike safety checks by Rockville Bike Hub and there will be free kids bike helmets and bike light giveaways, while supplies last. Visit vendor tables and get useful resources and information from State, County and City agencies.
Get tickets for free on the WABA website. For those interested in being a vendor or volunteering contact Peter Gray by email at peter@waba.org.
Reminder: New Capital Bikeshare Pricing Went into Effect on Friday, Aug. 1
The annual membership fee was went from $95 to $120 a year, the 30-day pass price went from $20 to $25 and the Day pass price went from $8 to $10.
Capital Bikeshare has experienced unprecedented ridership, that has impacted operational and management costs. Learn more about these changes, the reasons behind them, and how they may affect your ride.
WMATA Temporarily Relocates Twinbrook Metro Station Bus Loop
As of Sunday, July 27, Metro rehabilitated the surface parking lots and the East Bus Loop at the Twinbrook Station Metro Station to enhance safety. During this work, customers will see a reduction in parking availability by 15%.
To support this work, Metro also temporarily relocated the bus loop at Twinbrook Metro Station. All buses were relocated from the current East Bus Loop to Chapman Avenue at the lot by the parking garage. Riders should follow posted signage and allow extra time when navigating the new layout.
Closure of Medical Center Bus Loop in Bethesda to Impact Ride On Bus Routes 34 and 46 on Select Sundays Through Spring 2026
Due to Metrorail construction, the bus loop at the Medical Center Metro Station will be closed on select Sundays through Spring 2026, which will impact Ride On Bus Routes 34 and 46.
Learn more and view the detour map.
MCPD Traffic Task Force Wraps Up Summer Patrol
The combined forces of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPDs) Alcohol Initiatives Unit and the Maryland Alcohol Enforcement Section and other law enforcement agencies wrapped up their 10th and final week of patrol efforts across the county.
Since the Task Force began this summer it has accumulated 134 DUIs, 956 traffic stops, 1,222 citations, and 1331 warnings. Other infractions include 86 equipment repair orders, 26 criminal alcohol-related citations and 47 Breathalyzer tests.
These numbers reflect the actions taken by the Task Force and do not include those made by patrol officers. The total of DUI arrests across the county is higher.
Proposed Legislation Would Prohibit Standing, Stopping or Parking in Bikeways
Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass has introduced legislation that prohibits standing, stopping or parking vehicles in bikeways. Councilmembers Natali Fani-González, Andrew Friedson, and Dawn Luedtke are co-sponsors of the bill.
Through June 2025, Montgomery County has had 59 cyclist-involved crashes and one fatality. The legislation reinforces the county’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and aligns with existing practices in jurisdictions like the City of Rockville, Washington, D.C. and Howard County, which already prohibit parking in bike lanes.
Bill 28-25, Motor Vehicles and Traffic - Parking in Bikeways - Prohibited is scheduled for a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the County Council chambers located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The meeting will also be available via Zoom. Residents can sign up to testify or submit written testimony online via the Council’s website by 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29. The Council Agenda is now available online.
The EV Tax Credit Ends on Tuesday, Sept. 30 - What You Need To Know
On Friday, July 4, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" which repealed and revised many tax credits for clean energy technologies, including the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit. But don't worry! If you've recently purchased or have been dreaming about an EV, you can still claim the tax credit if you take delivery of the vehicle on or before Tuesday, Sept. 30.
New Data Map Shows Higher Flood Risks for Roads and Transit Networks in the Region
From Silver Spring in Maryland to the Bloomingdale neighborhood in the District and areas around the Pentagon, flash floods are creating more headaches — and more risk to transportation networks in the region. Read the WTOP article.
For information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to receive the latest MCDOT news by phone or email.
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