New Road Repair Projects Planned

MCDOT will be improving the County’s infrastructure with the following projects:

• Residential roadway resurfacing in the Heritage Farm neighborhood in Potomac beginning in late March.
• Roadway patching in Kemp Mill in Silver Spring beginning in April.
• Concrete repair and replacement in Wheaton Woods, Rockville, beginning in late-March and Stonebridge in Potomac beginning in mid-March.
• Storm drainage improvement on Oakmont Street in Gaithersburg beginning in March. 

MCDOT Answers Questions About the Order for Plowing County Roads

 

There is a misperception that there is always a predetermined order for clearing neighborhood streets and non-emergency roads that results in the same streets being plowed “first” or “last” in every storm. In fact, there is no street that is always first or always last. Learn more.

Last Day to Help Select a BRT System Name is January 20

The last day to enter the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) naming contest -- and win prizes – is January 20 by 5 p.m. Do you prefer Flash, Rapid or Swift? Or, propose another name. Vote online or learn more about BRT in Montgomery County.        

MCDOT Colesville Depot Employees Give Back During the Holidays

MCDOT’s Highway Services employees in the Colesville Depot adopted two needy families from Greencastle Elementary School and are providing them with gifts and gift cards to brighten their holiday season. The effort was organized by Greg Bryant and Robert Monroe. 

MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering is Making Progress on Major Construction Projects

MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering (DTE) designs and constructs transportation systems and infrastructure, including bikeways, sidewalks, transit facilities, ADA ramps, roads and storm drains; inspects, maintains and builds bridges; and acquires property for projects.

DTE has a number of major projects under construction and uses Twitter to keep the public informed about its progress on these efforts, including:

• Maryland 355 Crossing
• Stringtown Road   #StringtownRd
• Elmhirst Parkway Bridge  #Elmhirstpkwy
• Needwood Road Bike Path (Phase I)  #NeedwoodBP1
• White Flint Western Workaround Phase I  #whiteflintwest
•  Hyattstown Sidewalk  #HyattstownSW
• Glenbrook Road Contraflow Bike Lane  #GlenbrookRd
• Gude Road Sidewalk  #GudeSW
• Germantown Road Culvert  #GermantownCulvert
•  Agricultural Farm Road Bridge  #AgFarmbridge
• Snouffer School Road (South)  #Snouffersouth

MCDOT Conducts Intensive Effort to Fill Potholes

Earlier this month, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) began conducting an intensive effort to fill the County’s potholes. Since January, the department has filled more than 1,000 potholes reported through MC311 and others crews encountered as they made their rounds. MCDOT has been focusing on pothole repair by adding extra equipment and staff from all seven of MCDOT’s regional depots. MCDOT repairs potholes every day of the year except during rain and snow – and this year has been no exception. However, “Snowzilla” and the wide fluctuations in temperature over the last couple months have accelerated the creation of potholes, so crews will be out in force to aggressively respond.

“This has been a winter of extremes in temperature, which exacerbate formation of potholes on our County roads,” said Leggett. “That’s why our Division of Highway Services crews are out in full force to ensure that our roads are in decent shape. I want to thank our staff for their tireless efforts to keep the roads clear of ice and snow and for all they do to repair and maintain our transportation infrastructure.”

MCDOT relies on residents to report potholes through MC 311’s online system or by calling the MC311 Call Center at 311 or 240-777-0311, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers are asked to be cautious and patient when encountering crews filling potholes.

MCDOT maintains over 5,200 lane miles of roads in Montgomery County. The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) fills potholes, plows snow and maintains numbered routes in the County, such as Maryland routes 355 or 97. MSHA can be reached at 301-513-7300 or online. In addition, municipalities, such as the cities of Rockville or Gaithersburg, handle their own repairs. 

Go Montgomery *SPECIAL EDITION* February 2, 2016

MCDOT Responds to “Snowzilla” January 2016 The snowstorm of January 22 was record-setting, dumping between 22 and 38 inches of snow on Montgomery County. According to the National Weather Service, Potomac received the third highest snowfall on the East Coast with 38.5 inches recorded. See what MCDOT did to keep you moving.  Leggett Announces Six-Year Capital Construction Budget; Focus on Education, Job & Business Creation, Affordable Housing, Transit, Road Maintenance Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett released his recommended $4.4 billion FY17 Capital Budget and six-year FY17-22 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) on January 15. The plan includes $192 million in funding for Purple Line-related projects – including a maximum $40 million County contribution to the State for the Purple Line, and $181 million for road maintenance. Read more. Become an Exhibitor at the April 30 Montgomery County Greenfest The 2nd annual Montgomery County GreenFest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30 at the Takoma Park Community Center. GreenFest is looking for exhibitors to provide food or display information about their company or organization. For-profit and nonprofit environmentally-focused organizations and vendors are encouraged to participate.  Space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is expected to open the second week in February. Read more. County Council Asks Governor and MDOT to Construct Full I-270 Interchange at Watkins Mill Road The Montgomery County Council sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Peter Rahn, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, asking that the state proceed with the original design of the long-planned interchange at I-270 and Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg. It was recently learned that the State planned to significantly scale back the project. Read more. New Bikeshare Station Planned for Medical Center Metro Station A new Montgomery County Bikeshare station will soon be added at the Medical Center Metro Station – weather permitting. The station will be located between the Metro station and the Kiss and Ride parking lot. This will be the 53rd Bikeshare station in the County.Read more. Employers: Commuter Connections Awards Deadline Extended to February 5 The application deadline for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Commuter Connections program has been extended to February 5. The awards recognize regional employers who adopt alternative commuting methods such as transit, teleworking, carpooling/vanpooling and bicycling. These methods help to mitigate traffic congestion and provide for cleaner air through reduced auto emissions. Read more. Transportation for America Study Finds Positive Economic Development Benefits Associated with Bus Rapid Transit Projects Transportation for America unveiled the findings of a new peer-reviewed study that examined existing bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and found strong evidence that BRT systems in the U.S. can generate economic development, attract jobs, retail and affordable housing — at a cost that’s well within reach for many mid-size American cities. Read more. February 2, 2016 Did You Know that Ride On is Free for Montgomery College Students and Kids and Seniors at Certain Times of the Day? Montgomery College students can ride Ride On for free anytime by showing the driver a valid student identification card with a current semester sticker. Express routes may require an additional fee. With a Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card, those ages five through 18 have some great options for getting inexpensive and free rides. Kids ride free on Ride On from 2 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition, youth get unlimited rides for only $11/month. See details. Seniors age 65 years or older with a valid Metro Senior ID Card or Medicare Card and Photo ID ride free on Ride On from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Persons with a disability and a Metro Disabled Identification Card also ride free from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday and attendants either ride free or pay half fare, depending on the time and day. More information about Ride On fares is available online.

Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

MCDOT and DEP Remind Residents to Keep Leaves out of Storm Drains and Streams

 

With Highway Services’ annual leaf vacuum collection program underway, both MCDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remind residents to help keep leaves out of storm drains.  Leaves washed into storm drains not only block drain inlets, causing street flooding, but also add excessive nutrients to local waterways, significantly degrading water quality and potentially harming fish and wildlife.

Avoid raking leaves into the street; instead, pile them near the edge of the home’s property nearest the road. Crews will collect the leaves that are placed alongside the roadway. And, be assured that storing leaves on the lawn for a short time does not damage it.

In addition to clogging storm drains and impairing water quality, placing leaf piles in the street can cause many problems by:

• Disrupting traffic - Many neighborhoods have narrow streets and on-street parking. Leaf piles extending into the roadway limit parking and the ability of vehicles, especially school buses, to safely negotiate the streets.
• Hampering snow removal operations - Snow covered leaf piles can become extremely heavy and freeze to the roadway surface.
• Creating hazardous and very slippery conditions that could lead to accidents - When leaves get wet, they create a slick surface that makes it difficult for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists to stop, start or change direction.

There are several ways that homeowners can ensure fallen leaves are properly disposed, particularly for those who do not live the leaf vacuum collection area:

• Recycle leaf litter (not recommended for evergreen needles) on the lawn while mowing using either special mulching blades or a mulching lawn mower. Leaves are finely chopped and decompose over time, adding to soil and lawn health.
• Compost leaf litter and provide natural, organic nutrients to amend soils and help build soil structure. Montgomery County provides free composting bins and information on how to compost.
• Take advantage of the County’s weekly curbside yard trim pick-up by placing leaves in special large paper bags or reusable cans labeled with green yard trim stickers. The collected leaves are composted by Montgomery County.

Learn more about recycling leaves and yard trim online. 

MCDOT Prepares for Winter Storm Season with Mock Snow Day and Snow Summit; Leggett to Attend Snow Summit

On Wednesday, November 4, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Division of Highway Services will conduct an all-day exercise to test the preparedness of the County’s snow plans and fleet. Snow plow operators will run snow routes on more than 5,200 lane miles of County-maintained roads. Staff will handle a simulated six-inch snow storm.

The next day, Thursday, November 5, MCDOT will hold its annual Snow Summit and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will address officials from all County agencies with snow removal responsibilities. The summit is an opportunity to assess the County’s readiness for winter storms and discuss new initiatives. MCDOT chiefs from the Transit Services, Parking Management, Traffic Engineering and Operations and Highway Services divisions will discuss how they prepare for snow and winter storms.

At the FY14 Snow Summit, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett thanked staff and contractors for their dedication and commitment to keeping the county's road network clear during snow storms.

Go Montgomery - October 6, 2015

Celebrate Walk to School Day Wednesday, October 7 is Walk to School Day when communities around the country celebrate the simple act of walking and bicycling to school. This year’s Montgomery County host school will be Bells Mill Elementary School. Students, teachers and parents will gather at Cabin John Middle School at 9 a.m. and then begin their walk to school at 9:30 a.m. Read more. MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator Participates in International Panel; Wins Two Grants MCDOT's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator Nadji Kirby was part of an international panel on Bike Safety at the Safe Kids Worldwide Conference held at National Harbor this summer.  Her presentation focused on Montgomery County’s Safe Routes to School bike safety education program and how various partnerships have been instrumental to its success. Read more. Ride On Wins Transportation Association of Maryland Award for Outstanding Program Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system has won the Transportation Association of Maryland (TAM) award for outstanding program for its Bus Route 94 marketing campaign. The award was announced at TAM’s 2015 Expo held last week. Read more. MCDOT Wins Grant to Install Bikeshare Stations in Wheaton The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has won a $300,350 Maryland Bikeways Program grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to establish a six-station Bikeshare network in Wheaton. The grant will cover the purchase of the stations and bikes and the installation of the stations.  Read more. Join Leggett and Roshdieh for White Flint Transportation Open House  Montgomery County is hosting an open house on Monday, October 19 so community residents can learn more about the White Flint Transportation Management study. Read more. Distracted Walking Endangers Pedestrians According to a September 27 article in the Washington Post by Ashley Halsey, III, the number of people who think it is acceptable to walk while texting is increasing. However, pedestrian safety is compromised during distracted walking. Read the full article.  Learn more about the County’s campaign to reduce pedestrian collisions in parking lots.  Two New Traffic Signals Activated MCDOT's Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations (TEOS) has activated two new traffic signals. Read more. Police Conducting Distracted Driving Enforcements; Reminds Drivers to Give Cyclists Plenty of Space While Passing On Saturday, September 26, Montgomery Police 2nd District Commander Falcinelli sent area residents a community message about safety that included a caution about distracted driving, which he said is one of the biggest offenses contributing to crashes. Read more. Advertising on Bikeshare Station Signs Will Support Maintenance and Expansion of Bikeshare Seventeen Montgomery County Bikeshare stations now have space available on their signs for advertising. The signs are located in Bethesda and Silver Spring and at other Bikeshare locations. Ad revenue will be used to support Bikeshare maintenance and expansion.  Montgomery County has 51 Bikeshare stations in its network with plans to add 13 more. More information about the ad rates and locations is available from Brad Falk, Direct Media USA,bfalk@directmediausa.com.   Work on Park Trails Underway Bikers and runners should use caution while improvements are being made this fall on several trails in Montgomery Parks. Read more. October 6, 2015 Highway Services Road Improvement Update The Division of Highway Services (DHS) continues road improvement projects in October. Schedules are dependent on weather conditions. DHS uses several different techniques to enhance the quality of the County’s infrastructure. Read more. Highway Services’ Accomplishments Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is working for you! Read more. Request Highway’s Assistance Online Residents can submit online requests to MCDOT’s Division of Highway Services to fix or repair problems on County right-of-ways, including tree maintenance issues. Read more. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page.   Visit Go Montgomery to view more news.

Request Highway’s Assistance Online

Residents can submit online requests to MCDOT’s Division of Highway Services to fix or repair problems on County right-of-ways, including tree maintenance issues. Some examples include:

• clogged storm drains
• curb and gutter repair
• litter and debris pickup
• mowing
• pothole repair
• sidewalk repair
• hanging or broken tree limbs

See the full list and fill out the online 311 service request form.  Use the number provided to track the status of your request.

Highway Services’ Accomplishments

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is working for you!  During fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015), the Division of Highway Services’ (DHS):

• Resurfaced 85 lane miles of primary/arterial roads;
• Resurfaced 121 lane miles of residential/rural roads;
• Rehabilitated 29 lane miles of roads;
• Patched 86 lane miles of roads;
• Replaced 18 miles of curbs and gutters; and
• Replaced 20 miles of sidewalk.

In addition, DHS completed the annual street sweeping program in mid-August, removing more than 1,265 tons of debris from nearly 4,056 miles of County roadways. The street sweeping program is an important component of MCDOT’s sustainability efforts to protect the environment. Removing debris keeps these pollutants from washing into rivers and streams, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

Highway Services Road Improvement Update

The Division of Highway Services (DHS) continues road improvement projects in October. Schedules are dependent on weather conditions. DHS uses several different techniques to enhance the quality of the County’s infrastructure.

Permanent pavement patching preserves the roadway’s surface, restoring structural integrity. In these types of projects, DHS makes full depth patches, seals cracks, applies hot mix asphalt and replaces lane markings. Work hours for the projects listed below are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some Saturday work possible.

•         College View neighborhood, Silver Spring. Work will take about four weeks.
•          Pocahontas Drive, Laytonsville. Work will take about two weeks.

A five-week paving project has begun on Seven Locks Road from Bradley Boulevard to River Road, Bethesda, to repair and resurface the roadway. The project includes full depth patching, pavement milling, paving with hot mix asphalt and replacement of lane markings. Work hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. Some Saturday work may be required.  Read more.

Go Montgomery - September 28, 2015

MCDOT Sponsoring Safe Routes to School Contest to Promote Walk to School Day To promote Walk to School Day on October 7, Montgomery County Department of Transportation is hosting a Safe Routes to School Contest from September 28 through October 16. Read more. Celebrate Walk to School Day Wednesday, October 7 is Walk to School when communities around the country celebrate the simple act of walking and bicycling to school. It’s not too late for schools to register to participate.This year’s Montgomery County host school will be Bells Mill Elementary School. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Interim Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Larry Bowers will join students, teachers and parents as they gather at Cabin John Middle School at 9 a.m. and then begin their walk to school at 9:30 a.m.   Read more. Seniors Invited to Take Age-Friendly Community Survey In preparation for County Executive Ike Leggett’s upcoming Summit on Aging, residents 55 or older are invited to take a survey and offer their thoughts and ideas about Montgomery County as a place to live and retire. The summit will be focus on ways to make Montgomery County an even better "community for a lifetime." Read More. Walk and Ride Competition to be Held in October Commuter Services’ annual Walk and Ride competition encourages work teams in the County’s five Transportation Management Districts to add steps to their daily work-related activities. Teams track their walking during commutes or at lunchtime and compete for prizes. Read more. Ride On Route Service Improvements Started this Week On Sunday, Ride On bus schedules and routes were modified to better reflect traffic conditions and improve efficiencies.  Details about the changes are online. MCDOT Celebrates PARKing Day MCDOT celebrated International PARKing Day on September 18 in three of its parking districts: Silver Spring, in partnership with Montgomery Parks, Wheaton and Bethesda.  Read More. Commuter Services Sponsors Events for Car Free Day MCDOT’s  Commuter Services sponsored several events to promote Car Free Day on September 22. This international event encourages people to give up their car for the day and see how they can still get around...whether to work, school or shopping....using community resources ranging from transit to bikes to walking. Read More. MCDOT Sponsors Events to Celebrate the Fifth Birthday of Capital Bikeshare The region’s Capital Bikeshare system celebrated its fifth anniversary and MCDOT’s Commuter Services joined the festivities by hosting events in Silver Spring, Rockville and Bethesda. Staff distributed free Capital Bikeshare promotional items and free 24-hour membership coupons.  Those stopping by their booths had the opportunity to sign up for raffles to win bike helmets and an annual membership. September 28, 2015 MCDOT’s Transportation Engineering Division Chief Wins County Engineer of the Year Award Bruce Johnston, Transportation Engineering division chief, has won the County Engineers Association of Maryland (CEAM) County Engineer of the Year Award. CEAM presents this award to an engineer chosen for his/her exemplary service to their county. Read more. Upcoming Highway Services Road Improvement Projects The Division of Highway Services (DHS) continues road improvement projects in September/October. Schedules are dependent on weather conditions. Permanent pavement patching preserves pavement, restoring the roadway’s structural capacity and integrity. In these types of projects, DHS makes full depth patches, seals cracks, applies hot mix asphalt and replaces lane markings. Upcoming projects will take about six weeks to complete and will require temporary lane closures. Work will take place Monday through Friday, but some Saturday work may be required.  Read More. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by Department of Transportation of Montgomery County MD. Visit Go Montgomery to view more news.