Go Montgomery! August 24, 2017

Leggett Announces Free Fares on New MD 355 Ride On extRa Service during October 2017 Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced that the new, faster, Ride On extRa rush hour service beginning October 2 on Route 355 will be free, on an introductory basis, during the month of October. Read more. MCDOT Installs Another New Bikeshare Station MCDOT installed the 71st Bikeshare station in its network at Corporate Boulevard and Omega Drive in Rockville. The station was purchased by the developers of Hanover Shady Grove. This is the 27th Bikeshare station in the Rockville/Shady Grove/Life Sciences Center area. Read more. Pledge to Go Car Free or Car Lite on Friday, September 22 Join people worldwide in celebrating Car Free Day by pledging to travel by transit, bicycling or walking; telework; or use carpools or vanpools. Complete the pledge and be automatically entered into a raffle for prizes. Learn more and take the Car Free Pledge online. MCDOT to Rebuild Transportation Infrastructure in the Cabin John Community MCDOT’s Highway Services Division is beginning an extensive rehabilitation project in the Cabin John community to completely rebuild and repave streets and reconstruct sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Read more. Reminder: Reserve a Space for PARK(ing) Day -- Apply by September 8 Be a part of international PARK(ing) Day by transforming a parking space for a day into a fun, parklike spot. PARK(ing) Day will be held this year on Friday, September 15. Apply online by September 8.  Metro Begins Project to Rehabilitate Grosvenor-Strathmore Park & Ride Garage Metro has begun a rehabilitation project at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Park & Ride garage that will remove about 250 parking spaces each work day. Read more. Planning Department Seeks Input on Update to Master Plan of Highways and Transitways The Montgomery Planning Department is in the process of updating the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways and is seeking input through a recently launched digital interactive feedback map. Read more. Motorists Should Expect Traffic Impacts During Two-Year WSSC Project to Replace Aging Water Mains Along US 29 The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is replacing a water line on US 29 (Colesville Road) between I-495 (Capital Beltway) and MD 97 (Georgia Avenue).  Expect single and double lane closures weekdays between 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Weekend work may occur between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and occasional evening work also may take place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day. Read more. August 24, 2017 MCDOT Continues Progress on Road Resurfacing Projects Fountain ViewResidential Roadway Resurfacing, Clarksburg Holly Oaks Subdivision, North Bethesda Sweepstakes Subdivision, Phase II, Damascus Huntington Terrace, Bethesda Oakmont Avenue from Shady Grove Road to Central Avenue, Gaithersburg Sligo Creek Parkway, from University Boulevard to Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda Epsilon Drive, Derwood Richter Farm Road, Boyds

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

Sign Up for Purple Line Project Updates

Residents and businesses who want to receive targeted updates about Purple Line construction activities that may affect them can sign up for notifications from the Maryland Transit Administration via email, text message and or phone. Read more.

Visual and Literary Arts to be Incorporated into Purple Line Station Designs

This handout image shows what the exterior of the Purple Line light railcars would look like. The rendering is based
 on the railcars used in Houston. (Courtesy Maryland Transit Administration)

The Purple Line team invites the public to attend a “Meet the Artists” public meeting on November 30 and share information about their community’s unique history and culture with 87 invited artists. The artists will use the information to prepare proposals for artwork to be incorporated at stations along the route. Learn more.

In addition, the Maryland Transit Administration Project Management Consultant for the Purple Line seeks literary artists to create a story to be integrated into the design and infrastructure of the future Purple Line transit corridor. Qualifications are due December 1.  Read more.

New Respect the Space Campaign Focusing on Disability Parking Signs

Montgomery County’s continuing “Respect the Space” campaign has launched a new initiative to help ensure that the signage for disability parking spaces complies with legal standards.

All parking lot managers are encouraged to review the State of Maryland’s Accessibility Code, and then take the necessary steps to make their parking lot signs and striping compliant.

Montgomery County property managers, condominiums and homeowner’s associations can learn more about ADA parking compliance online.  Read more.

Statement by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett on Metro Shutdown Plan

“I want to commend WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) General Manager Paul Wiedefeld for his willingness to push ahead on a comprehensive plan to address much-needed safety and maintenance problems faced by Metro. A serious effort to address these challenges is long overdue. This initiative is drastic, but the safety of our residents and Metro users has to be the highest priority for all of us.

“Montgomery County will work together with Metro to minimize inconveniences and difficulties resulting from this plan. I strongly believe this is necessary to bring the system up to a state of good repair. My expectation is that this sacrifice will, in the long-term, result in a stronger and safer Metro system.”

Wayne Avenue Community Invited to Purple Line Informational Meeting

Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, May 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. to discuss plans for the Purple Line along Wayne Avenue, particularly near the intersection of Wayne Avenue and Dale Drive. MTA’s Concessionaire will also attend to hear more about community issues.

The meeting is planned for at the Silver Spring Civic Building Great Hall, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.  For more information, contact Hannah Henn or 240-777-7170.

Go Montgomery - April 18, 2016

Donate Food and Get Free Ride on Ride On April 24 to 30 Ride On is sponsoring its 30th annual Give and Ride food drive that benefits both passengers and needy families. When a Ride On customer donates a canned or nonperishable food item, they’ll receive a free bus ride. Read more. Al Roshdieh Joins Regional Leaders at Launch of Spring Street Smart Campaign MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and other transportation officials from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia in Silver Spring urged drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists to exercise caution, watch out for each other, and follow traffic safety laws at the launch of the spring Street Smart public awareness and enforcement campaign.  Readmore. SAVE THE DATE: Montgomery County GreenFest is April 30 Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be an active participant in this year’s GreenFest, which will be held outside of the Takoma Park Community Center on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..  We hope to see you there! Come visit our exhibit to learn more about what MCDOT is doing to enhance the environment and promote sustainability. Read More. MDOT and MCDOT to Hold MD355 Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Planning Study Open Houses The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), invites the public to attend two open houses on plans to develop Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along a portion of the MD 355 corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. At the open houses, residents will have the opportunity to meet the project team, get more information and provide input. Read More. MCDOT Announces Adopt A Road Winners This Earth Month, consider becoming an Adopt A Road participant. MCDOT recruits and manages volunteers who have adopted more than 400 road segments. Residents, businesses and organizations sponsor clean ups to keep their adopted road segment litter free – and keep trash from washing into storm drains and polluting our County waterways. Read more. Spring Means More Walking and Biking: Follow These Tips to Stay Safe The flowers are blooming and the weather is getting warmer. Whether walking, biking, or driving — more people want to be outside.  Stay safe when spending time outdoors. To view the Street Smart safety tips click here. Council President Floreen Announces Winners of Golden Shovel Awards On April 19, Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen will present the 2016 Golden Shovel awards to recognize Montgomery residents who helped neighbors shovel out after this winter’s harsh snowfalls. Read more. SHA to Hold Public Meeting about Proposed Project Along US 29 to Improve Safety and Accessibility The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will hold a public meeting to provide more information about a project being designed to improve safety and accessibility along 0.3 miles of US 29 (Columbia Pike) from Lockwood Drive to Burnt Mills Avenue. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 21, at Burnt Mills Elementary School, 11211 Childs Street, Silver Spring from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. Read more. 28th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, April 16 The Alice Ferguson Foundation sponsored its Annual Potomac River Cleanup on April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, more than 20,000 volunteers in four states and the District of Columbia participated in this event, removing 1.2 million pounds of trash from watersheds. Read more. Residents Invited to Participate in Live Online Discussion with County Executive Ike Leggett Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will hold a “virtual” town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. County residents may submit questions to the County Executive before and during the chat at Live Discussion with Ike Leggett. Questions and answers will be posted both during and after the chat. For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507. Developer Work Begins on East West Highway in Silver Spring Clark Construction has begun lane closures on MD 410 (East West Highway) between Blair Mill Road and US 29 (Colesville Road) in downtown Silver Spring for utility-related construction activity that should be completed by Memorial Day, weather permitting. The closures will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to  3 p.m.  Read more. Pew Research Center Report Looks at Who in the U.S. Relies on Transit A Pew Research survey conducted in late 2015 found that one-in-ten Americans (11 percent) say they take public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Who is taking public transit varies substantially by region, nativity, and race and ethnicity. Read more. April 18, 2016 Maryland Board Approves $5.6-billion Purple Line Contract; Light Rail Will Have Longest Railcars in Country Maryland’s Board of Public Works approved a $5.6 billion contract Wednesday for a team of companies to build and operate a light-rail Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton. Read more. Residential Street Sweeping Begins April 18 Montgomery County’s 4,000 curb miles of residential roadways will get a spring cleaning with the launch of the annual street sweeping program. Read more. MCDOT Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Four More Garages The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Division of Parking Management has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in four more County-owned parking garages. Read more. MCDOT Ramps Up Road Resurfacing and Repair Projects in April Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) extends the life of roads by making full depth, permanent patching, excavating deteriorated areas and repairing the road base with hot mix asphalt. For a list of projects click here. Ride On Adds Text Alert Option to Keep Customers Informed Riders can now sign up to receive text alerts from Ride On. Read more.

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

Maryland Board Approves $5.6-billion Purple Line Contract; Light Rail Will Have Longest Railcars in Country

Maryland’s Board of Public Works approved a $5.6 billion contract Wednesday for a team of companies to build and operate a light-rail Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton. According to the contract, the line would be completed in March 2022. (Washington Post) Read more.

An article in Greater Greater Washington about the Purple Line states that it will have America’s longest railcars. Read more.

                                                 

 

MDOT and MCDOT to Hold MD355 Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Planning Study Open Houses

 

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), invites the public to attend two open houses to learn more about and provide input on plans to develop Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along a portion of the MD 355 corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. At the open houses, residents will have the opportunity to meet the project team and get more information about: 

• How BRT works, what it looks like and other details about operations; 
• The study process and schedule; 
• Existing conditions in the study area; and  
• A draft preliminary purpose and need statement for the project. 

 The first Open House is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Bethesda–Chevy Chase High School Cafeteria, 4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 

The second Open House will be held Tuesday, May 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gaithersburg High School Cafeteria, 101 Education Boulevard, Gaithersburg. 

The same information will be presented at each meeting and attendees are encouraged to stop by anytime during the open houses. 

Project information is also available online or by phone by calling the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Office of Customer and Community Relations at 410-767-3999, toll-free at 866-743-3682 or TTY 410-539-3497. 

MTA encourages residents to submit questions or comments by email or by mail to Maryland Transit Administration, 6 St. Paul Street, Suite 902, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Holiday Schedules for Ride On, Metro and TRiPS Commuter Stores

Ride On, Metro and the TRiPS Commuter Stores have modified schedules next week:

• Ride On –  Sunday schedule on December 25 and January 1; limited weekday service until 10 p.m. on December 24.
• Metrobus – Sunday schedule on December 25 and January 1
• Metrorail – Sunday schedule on December 25 and January 1
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed on December 25 and January 1

Maryland Commuter Tax Credit Available for Employers

Maryland employers, including 501 (c)(3) organizations, may claim a tax credit for 50 percent of the eligible costs of providing commuter benefits, up to a maximum credit of $50 for each participating employee per month. The tax credit can be taken against personal income tax, corporate income tax or insurance premium tax. Employers must submit a registration form to the State before the last day of the taxable year in which the credit will be claimed.

Learn more from the Maryland Transit Administration and the State of Maryland Comptroller's Office.