 White’s Ferry Study by Montgomery and Loudoun Counties CompletedWhite’s Ferry is a historic cable ferry crossing the Potomac River, connecting Montgomery County in Maryland and Loudoun County in Virginia. White’s Ferry ceased operations on Dec. 28, 2020, following a Circuit Court opinion in a private lawsuit over the use of private land for the ferry landing in Virginia. In response MCDOT, the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure jointly undertook a study to evaluate the long-term feasibility and reliability of the ferry service and help identify possible alternatives and courses of action. Learn more here. |
 JOIN OUR TEAM!MCDOT is Hiring Ride On Bus OperatorsMCDOT has immediate openings for full-time and part-time Ride On bus operators. The positions offer applicants 21-and-over paid CDL license training, a competitive benefits package and a fun, supportive atmosphere, with ongoing professional development opportunities. Transportation is one of the County’s most important resources. MCDOT’s Ride On bus service achieves an essential mission of the County by connecting people, communities, workplaces, educational institutions and many other essential destinations. MCDOT owns and operates nearly 400 buses. Supporting residents and visitors with transit options and infrastructure, MCDOT is a large organization with about 1,300 employees. Potential applicants can get more information and apply at bit.ly/3C2fIRl. Search “Operator” or position code IRC51804. |
 MCDOT Continues Leaf Collection Through Mid-DecemberTwo collections will take place on each leaf collection district street. The leaf vacuum collection district is bounded by I-495; I-270; the Rockville City limits; Norbeck, Bel Pre and Bonifant roads; Northwest Branch Park; and the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County lines. Find out if your home is in the leaf district by entering your address here. Residents are asked to pile leaves near the street, but not on the road. Check out the video on how to prepare leaves properly and why it is important to keep leaf piles clear of trash and off of the streets. If you are looking for a way to help your community, but still want to remain socially distanced and outdoors, please consider reaching out to your elderly neighbor or neighbors with disabilities to ask if they need help raking their leaves. Raking leaves is a great way to help others while getting good exercise. What Happens to Your Leaves Once Collected? You've likely seen Leafgro at your local garden center but, do you know where it comes from? Leaves collected from MCDOT's leaf collection program are stored for a year, then mulched, composted, and then packaged to be sold as Leafgro®. Profits from sales are put directly back into the leafing program. Learn more here. |
 'Open Parkways’ Program Extends Hours for the Thanksgiving HolidayMontgomery Park’s “Open Parkways Program” was launched at the start of COVID-19 to provide additional space for safe outdoor recreation and exercise. The following roads will be open to pedestrians and cyclists: Wednesday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m. through Sunday, Nov 28, 4 p.m.: - Sligo Creek Parkway from Old Carroll Ave. to Piney Branch Rd. (1.1 miles) and from Forest Glen Rd. to University Blvd. West (1.5 miles)
- Beach Drive from Connecticut Ave. to Knowles Ave. (2.7 miles)
Wednesday, Nov. 24, 7 a.m. through Sunday, Nov. 28, 4 p.m.: - Little Falls Parkway from River Rd. to Arlington Rd. (1 mile)
Did you know? You can apply to bring a smaller version of Shared Streets to your neighborhood - submit a block permit for four days of recreation. Learn more here. |
 MCDOT Holds Virtual Public Forum on Proposed Ride On Bus Route 4 Service Changes on Dec. 7The proposed routing would extend services on Route 4 to terminate at the Wheaton Metrorail Station. For additional information access the Ride On website for the full notice and session handout. Click here to join the forum at 6:30 p.m. |
 MCDOT Installs Third Protected Intersection in Montgomery CountyMCDOT is installing a protected intersection at the corner of Fenton Street and Cameron Street in downtown Silver Spring. The work is part of MCDOT’s Cameron Street to Planning Place Bikeway project. This and other MCDOT projects will effectively create a continuous separated bikeway corridor from Spring Street to the Metropolitan Branch Trail at Fenton Street and King Street. The county’s first protected intersection was installed at Second Avenue and Spring Street in 2019. Read the Source of the Spring article here.  Construction On The Purple Line Is Set To Resume This Spring With a New ContractorMaryland Transit Solutions will be the new contractor to build the 16-mile light rail line, pending approval from the Board of Public Works. Read the DCIST article here. |
 Public Invited to Corridor Forward: The I-270 Transit Plan Public Hearing on Dec. 9The purpose of the Corridor Forward Transit Plan is to evaluate and prioritize transit options to serve communities and employment centers along the I-270 corridor. The planning process includes opportunities for public input and proposes dedicated bus lanes that build on existing master planned projects. The Montgomery County Planning Board will start the hearing at 6:30 p.m. and will broadcast live and made available on demand. Residents can sign up here to testify either in person (if vaccinated) or virtually via Microsoft Teams. |
 Public Invited to Thrive Montgomery 2050 Virtual Listening Session on Nov. 30 The Montgomery County Council will hold a community listening session to hear from residents about Thrive Montgomery 2050. It will be hosted virtually via Zoom on Nov. 30, 2021, starting at 7 p.m. The Council encourages both those who have not heard of the plan before and those who have been following the plan closely to review the draft plan and pre-register to speak at the session. Thrive Montgomery 2050 is a framework to guide land use planning for housing, economic development, equity, transportation, environmental sustainability and more for the next three decades in Montgomery County. Learn more here. |
METRO UPDATE Metrorail Weeknight Service Adjustments for Monday, Nov. 15 through Friday, Nov. 19 Metrorail service will begin at 5 a.m. and close at midnight Monday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday. Trains will serve 89 of 91 stations. Customers are advised that Metro will continue to operate reduced service levels through at least Nov. 30, due to the removal of all 7000-series railcars from service in relation to last month's Blue Line derailment investigation. Learn more here. Rockville, Shady Grove Metro Station Reopening Delayed Until January The reopening of two Metro stations that were closed in September so a platform canopy could be demolished and reconstructed will be delayed by a month, learn more here. To receive biweekly construction and other project updates, sign up here. |
ROAD CLOSURES MCDOT’s Beach Drive Bridge Replacement Project in Kensington to Reopen in Early April The construction project on Beach Drive in Kensington, between Kensington Parkway and Old Spring Road, has been accelerated by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) so that a two-lane vehicle bridge can be replaced and the road reopened by April 1. The road has been closed since Aug. 30. Since the project began, traffic has been detoured through MD 185 to MD 192 to Stoneybrook Drive and Beach Drive. The roadway is now scheduled to be reopened to traffic on April 1, although the contractor will be performing final paving, striping and landscaping in early July.
A new pedestrian bridge constructed as part of the project was opened on Sept. 1. Learn more here. A Portion of Great Seneca Highway is Closed in Germantown Until Friday, Nov. 19 The right lane and sidewalk along Great Seneca Highway between Kentlands Boulevard and Main Street will be closed weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. while American Directional Drilling installs a new pipe for a Comcast Fiber Line. For questions contact Stanley Powell, Construction Manager at 301-606-7133 or Stan.powell@ccgcatv.com. A Portion of Emory Lane and Muncaster Mill Road in Olney Closed MCDOT has closed Emory Lane at Muncaster Mill Road for construction, allowing local traffic only, for culvert replacement work. Detour signs are posted. Pleasant View Park Construction Has Begun in the City of Gaithersburg Construction on a new park, located on Route 28 at the former site of the Consumer Product Safety Commission campus, has begun and is expected to be completed in February 2023. Pleasant View Park is a planned 9.84-acre park with community gardens, a bicycle skills course, pavilions, playground, fitness pods, and welcome plaza. Learn more here. |
In The NewsPublic Transit Use is the Key to Lowering Transportation Emissions Many officials, city leaders and experts are reminding people that the key to meeting climate goals in the transportation sector is to take public transit. Read the CityLab article here. Bus Systems Are Eyeing Lower Fares, Leaving Passengers and Advocates to Wonder at What Cost Bus systems across the Washington region are reexamining fares to address income inequalities and racial disparities as they try to lure riders back. But those discussions are at a crossroads, with operators and policymakers weighing whether financial benefits to riders outweigh the loss of fare revenue. Read the Washington Post article here. Pandemic Didn't Slow Down Drunk Driving or Speeding in Part of DC Region Despite stay-at-home orders and the reduction of restaurant dining and bars, some serious traffic violations increased in some local communities during the pandemic. A News4 I-Team review of police data from nearly a dozen major local police departments shows arrests for driving under the influence remained at — or exceeded — pre-pandemic levels throughout 2020 and early 2021. Read the NBC Washington article here.  For department updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot or sign up to receive the latest MCDOT news release. |
