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.

Go Montgomery Newsletter - July 15, 2015

Randolph Road to Close for About a Week Starting Saturday, July 18 Randolph Road at Nebel Street will close for about a week on Saturday, July 18 while CSX performs track maintenance. CSX expects to reopen the road on Friday, July 24, weather permitting. Read more. It’s Not Too Late to Submit a Photo for MCDOT’s Annual Photography Competition; Application Due Date Extended to July 31 For the 24th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos of County locations or residents are judged on effective composition, originality, interest and relevance of the subject matter, and technique. Categories include Montgomery County by day or by night, County landmarks, people, and persons at work. There is also an optional youth category for aspiring photographers age 18 and younger who wish to be judged only against their peers. Read more. MCDOT Highway Services Begins Urgent Drainage Repairs in Damascus, Poolesville and Chevy Chase Sweepstakes Road in Damascus between Cutsail Drive and Newbury Road will be closed for about six months as Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Highway Services begins an urgent replacement of a large culvert under the road. Motorists are advised to look for signs directing them to route detours. The road will remain open to pedestrian traffic Read More. School Warning Flashers Retimed for New School Schedules this Fall; New Technology Allows Central Control of Timing Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Board of Education votedto push back school start times for all students. To accommodate this change, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is in the process of reprogramming more than 150 school warning flashers. As part of this effort, staff is installing new equipment that allows MCDOT’s Transportation Management Center to remotely manage the devices rather than having to individually adjust each warning flasher in the field. All school warning flashers will be upgraded by the first day of school. Use of Digital Parking Permits to Begin in Blueridge and Rosemary Hills Neighborhoods in Wheaton Starting the week of July 13, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will begin phasing in the new, online residential parking permit program that eliminates the need for paper permits in the Blueridge and Rosemary Hills neighborhoods.  Read more. Public Hearing on Phase 2 of the Montrose Parkway Project to be Held July 23 The Maryland State Highway Administration and MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering will hold a public hearing on July 23 to seek comments on a proposal to construct Montrose Parkway between Maryland Route 355 (Rockville Pike) and Parklawn Drive.Read more. Express Bus Service May be Coming to Veirs Mill; Metro Could Start Service in January The Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) Customer Service and Operations Board Committee approved a proposal to add limited stop Metrobus service on Veirs Mill Road from the Rockville Metrorail Station to the Wheaton Metrorail Station. Read More. One Block of Lincoln Street in Bethesda to Permanently Close on July 21 Beginning Tuesday, July 21, Lincoln Street, between Old Georgetown Road and Grant Street, will be permanently closed to make way for Suburban Hospital's construction of an addition and new parking structure. A presentation about the project is available online. SHA Shifts Traffic Lanes for University Boulevard Bridge Project in Silver Spring The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed one-half of the $9.6 million Maryland Route 193 (University Boulevard) bridge replacement project in Silver Spring. Read more. SHA to Begin I-495 Triple Lane Closures Thursday Night Beginning Thursday, July 16 (weather permitting), and continuing each weeknight until all work is completed, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close traffic lanes on the Outer Loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) over Maryland Route 185 (Connecticut Avenue, exit 34) for emergency bridge deck repairs. Read more. JULY 15, 2015 HIGHWAY SERVICES BEGIN REPAIR PROJECTS Highway Services will begin two projects to repair or replace sidewalks, curbs and gutters on Muncaster Road, from Muncaster Mill Road, MD 115, to Horizon Terrace; and in the Airpark Business District along Snouffer School Road, from Woodfield Road (MD124) to Earhart Court. Both projects are in Gaithersburg.Read more. MCDOT will resurface roadways in the Inverness North community, located in Potomac . The roads will be resurfaced with hot mix asphalt in July or August. The project should take about four weeks to complete. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, although some work on Saturdays may be required.Read more. MCDOT will permanently patch pavement in the Good Hope Estates community inSilver Spring; the  Carole Acres neighborhood in Colesville; and on Brookeville Road, from Georgia Avenue to Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, beginning in July or August. Read more. In Darnestown, crews will use a chip seal resurfacing treatment on Black Rock Road, from Darnestown Road to Burdette Lane, to preserve the pavement on this rural/rustic road. Read more. In Darnestown, crews will use a chip seal resurfacing treatment on Black Rock Road, from Darnestown Road to Burdette Lane, to preserve the pavement on this rural/rustic road. Read more.

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

It’s Not Too Late to Submit a Photo for MCDOT’s Annual Photography Competition; Application Due Date Extended to July 31

The County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has extended the application due date for its annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) photography competition.

For the 24th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos of County locations or residents are judged on effective composition, originality, interest and relevance of the subject matter, and technique. Categories include Montgomery County by day or by night, County landmarks, people, and persons at work. There is also an optional youth category for aspiring photographers age 18 and younger who wish to be judged only against their peers.

Visit MCDOT’s Community Outreach website to obtain the photography contest application.

For more information call MCDOT’s Community Outreach office at 240-777-7155 or email mcdot.outreach@montgomerycountymd.gov to request an application form either by mail or electronically.

First Place Winners from 2014:

Go Montgomery - April 24, 2015

Leggett and Roshdieh Launch Program to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Public Parking Lots and Garages Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Acting Director Al Roshdieh unveiled three new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with the capacity to charge six vehicles at the Bethesda Capital Crescent (Garage 31) public parking garage. Read more. Ride On Sponsors Teen Video Contest; Entries Due May 1 Montgomery County's Ride On bus system is looking for middle and high school students to help spread the word about its free and discounted kids programs by producing a fun and educational video about the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip Card, the Monthly Pass, and the Summer Pass. Winners could win bus passes for an entire year, Ride On gear, and the opportunity to have the video featured on the County's website, Montgomery County Cable Television and Ride On's YouTube channel. Read more. Two Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area Meetings Planned for Next Week On Monday, April 27, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a public workshop to answer questions about improvements being considered for the Grosvenor/Strathmore bicycle and pedestrian priority area. The improvements could include bulb-outs and sidewalk, curb and curb ramp reconstruction to meet Americans with Disabilities Act best practices.The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Garrett Park Elementary School cafeteria located at 4810 Oxford Street in Kensington, Maryland. Read more. State Bill Could Speed Up Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements  A state bill signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan requires the State Highway Administration (SHA) to act within a year of when Montgomery County designates a location as a Bicycle-Pedestrian Priority Area. SHA would then be required to ensure that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians are taken into account during all phases of transportation planning, design, construction or expansion.  Read more. AAA Says Six in 10 Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving (Article Source: CBS Baltimore, March 25, 2015) A new study gives a rare glimpse to what goes on when teens take the wheel. Traffic officials say teen drivers have the highest crash rate out of any age group. Their distraction is more severe than ever reported and now a series of videos proves it. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety partnered with the University of Iowa to study the behind-the-wheel behavior of 16 to 19-year-old drivers. Researchers examined nearly 7,000 videos from cameras mounted in vehicles showing what drivers were doing seconds before impact and what was happening on the road. The study reveals distractions were a factor in 58% of crashes. Using a cell phone is behind many close calls. Looking away from the road or talking with passengers also led to collisions.  Read the full article with a link to a video compilation of teen distracted driving crashes online. May is Bicycle Safety Month To celebrate Bike Safety Month, why not consider sharing safety information and resources about biking with family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has materials and ideas available www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/BicycleSafety. April 24, 2015 In the Spotlight is a new occasional feature that will highlight some of MCDOT’s outstanding employees and the services they provide to the public Joseph M. Pospisil  (AKA “Joe”) has been with Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations for the past eight years.  Although Joes’ family resides in Iowa, MCDOT is fortunate to have him living and working here in Montgomery County. Read more. Upcoming Paving and Resurfacing Projects MCDOT will begin repairs and hot mix asphalt resurfacing of Parkland Drive, Aspen Hill and Randolph Road, between Georgia Avenue and Connecticut Avenue. Resurfacing on Parkland Drive begins in April and is expected to take about five weeks and work hours will be between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Work on Randolph Road will start in May and occur at night Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., to minimize traffic delays. The project is expected to take about six weeks, weather permitting. Read More. MCDOT's Division of Transit Services Now has YouTube Channel Check out Transit Services’ You Tube channel for information about Ride On and Commuter Services in the County.  ------------------- MCDOT Road Patching Featured in YouTube Video MCDOT’s Division of Highway Services has posted a short video on its YouTube Channel that explains how crews patch roads. Check it out online. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation. Subscribe, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on the 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.

Go Montgomery News - April 17, 2015

Montgomery County Celebrates April as Earth Month! Join the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection in celebrating not only Earth Day on April 22, but also Earth Month throughout April by volunteering for stream cleanups throughout the County. Volunteers will help remove trash and larger debris while learning about local waterways and enjoying the natural environment. Read More. For more green news and events in Montgomery County Click Here. Ride On's Give and Ride Program Provides Free Rides to Those Who Donate Food:This Year’s Program Runs April 19 through August 25 Ride On's Give and Ride community service program will be held this year from Sunday, April 19 to Saturday, April 25. Ride On passengers get a free trip by donating non-perishable food or children’s food items (plastic containers preferred) right on the bus. All donations go to Manna Food Center and area families. The number of hungry families in need continues to rise. Donations will support the Smart Sacks program, which helps local children and families on weekends and other times when school-sponsored meals are not available. Read More. Two State Highway Administration Projects Making Improvements in the Bethesda Area This spring, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a resurfacing project on East-West Highway (MD 410), from Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) to Connecticut Avenue (MD 185). The work will resurface the roadbed, replace damaged sidewalks, upgrade curb ramps, replace damaged and deteriorated curbs and gutters and construct signal improvements at several intersections. Read More. MCDOT Honors "Stand Up 4 Transportation" National Infrastructure Day Montgomery County joined hundreds of local transit organizations across the nation by engaging congressional leaders and urging them to pass a bill for long-term transportation funding to replace the expiring MAP-21 legislation. Read more. Cedar Lane Detour Ends for Ride On Route 34 Ride On bus route 34 (Friendship Heights-Kensington) has resumed using Cedar Lane in both directions, rather than detouring around Cedar Lane via Beach Drive and Jones Bridge Road. The months-long detour was needed during construction of a state highway administration project to improve traffic and pedestrian access at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Cedar Lane.  SHA Continues MD 190 (River Road) Safety and Resurfacing Project this Spring The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is starting a $3.1 million safety and resurfacing project along MD 190 (River Road) from I-495 (Capital Beltway) to MD 614 (Goldsboro Road) in Bethesda. Weather permitting; the project should be completed in late summer 2015. Remaining work will upgrade sidewalks to meet ADA requirements, reconstruct traffic signals, install audible pedestrian signals, replace damaged curb and gutter, fix drainage issues, replace two linear miles of guardrail, patch and resurface all traffic lanes and apply new pavement markings. APRIL 17, 2015 Division of Highway Services Begins Street Sweeping To improve water quality, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Division of Highway Services began street sweeping on April 13 to keep dirt, sand and debris out of streams, particularly in sensitive watershed areas. Last year, more than 1,000 tons of potential pollutants were removed from 4,000 lane miles of roads.  The program is a joint effort between MCDOT and Department of Environmental Protection,  Read More. MCDOT Begins Road Patching and Resurfacing Projects Two full-depth, permanent patching projects on residential roads will begin in April; one in Germantown in the Waters Landing neighborhood and the other in Silver Spring in the Carroll Knolls neighborhood. MCDOT will remove and replace distressed pavement areas and repave with hot mix asphalt. Both projects will take about five weeks to complete, weather permitting.   Read More. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

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