Go Montgomery! The Latest Transportation News - May 22, 2020

Montgomery County Continues Stay At Home Order Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced that the County joined other large jurisdictions in Maryland in continuing a stay-at-home order for now. Relaxation of the order will occur when the COVID-19 data show it is safe to do so. County officials are asking residents to remain vigilant in practicing preventive measures. Read more.  Montgomery County COVID-19 Data Dashboard Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles introduced a new COVID-19  data dashboard. The dashboard provides information on hospitalizations, number of patients in intensive care units, and number of ventilators in use as well as previously available information regarding the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. This information will help guide the County’s decisions on when to lift its Stay-at-Home Executive Order. Read more. MCDOT  to Receive $30 Million Federal Funding for Transit  MCDOT will receive $30.2 million from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to support Ride On bus operations during and after the COVID-19 health crisis. The funds will help mitigate the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on the County’s transit system. Read more.   Montgomery County May Soon Begin Reopening Process Montgomery County could begin a phased reopening in the next week or two, according to County Health Officer Travis Gayles, though a specific date has not been publicly targeted. Gayles said on a virtual media briefing Wednesday that the county, one of the hardest-hit jurisdictions in the region during the coronavirus pandemic, has seen positive trends on key benchmarks such as hospitalizations and the average number of daily cases. Read Biz Journal article.  MCDOT’s Ride On Depot Chiefs Recognized for Outstanding Service  Every week during the COVID-19 health crisis, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kleine recognize County employees who are “High Risers” -- those who have risen to the challenge of the COVID-19 health crisis after facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles and transforming them into attainable realities. MCDOT is very proud that its three Ride On depot chiefs, Allan Watts, Andre Lucas and James Ryan, are the latest employees to be recognized for establishing Ride On depot COVID-19 procedures, protocols and operations to better protect employees and residents. Read more.  MobileNOW! Parking Payment App Ceases Operation Due to COVID-19 Health Crisis; Parkmobile App Still Available at All County-Operated Parking Locations On the same day that operations ended, MCDOT received notification that one of the two mobile parking payment app providers, MobileNOW!, is no longer in business. MobileNow! was an option for parking payments at County-owned on-street meters, parking garages and lots. Parkmobile, the other parking app alternative, continues to offer pay-by-phone parking payment, and customers can download the app or create a new account at Parkmobile’s website. Read more Face Covering Required for Essential Travel on Ride On Buses Ride On passengers are required to wear face coverings —which may include a cloth mask, bandana or scarf—and use it to cover the mouth and nose before boarding the bus. Buses will have a limited supply of face coverings on board for passengers who cannot provide their own. Bus service is being provided for essential travel only, and the number of passengers on each bus will be limited to allow for safe social distancing. Read more.  METRO Requires Face Coverings The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced that face coverings or masks are now required when traveling on Metro. While the overwhelming majority of riders already comply voluntarily to CDC guidelines, the requirement is viewed as a necessary step as Metro plans for an eventual recovery with more riders using the system. View the press release.  Bikeshare and Lyft E-Scooters Extend Free Essential Worker Program to June 30 Capital Bikeshare and Lyft Electric Scooters have extended their essential worker program that gives essential employers and workers, including those in the healthcare, food service, and food retailer industries, free, unlimited, 30-day Bikeshare and Lyft e-scooter memberships allowing access to unlimited, 30-minute bike trips and e-scooter trips. MCDOT Held Virtual Project Briefing About Seminary Road Project On May 7, MCDOT shared information virtually on its ongoing work underway on Seminary Road, as well as some work around Riley Place in the Montgomery Hills area. MCDOT is constructing bike lanes and sidewalks. MCDOT continues offering the public real-time interactions with MCDOT project staff and recording the briefings for later viewing by those who are unable to participate.  Learn more about MCDOT’s engineering and construction projects by following @MoCo_DTE on twitter, or visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/currentprojects/index.html. Metro Shares Preliminary Recovery Plan  Metro has released preliminary details of its COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan, outlining its strategies for ramping up service, while protecting customers and employees. The plan anticipates gradual recovery of regional mobility in a flexible and phased approach. Read more.  Also, the CARES Act will help fund Metro's increased expenses driven by these enhanced safety measures and the unprecedented drop in fare revenue due to COVID-19. Read Washington Post Article. Wheaton Revitalization Project Experiences Some Delays Due to COVID-19 The Wheaton Revitalization Project is about 98 percent complete. However, progress on the project has been hampered by COVID-19 impacts on labor and materials. The completion date for the project remains fluid, with a target date of sometime this summer. MCDOT is constructing the Wheaton Revitalization Project, which will provide a government office building, below ground parking garage, and a town square. Learn more about the project. Executive Boulevard to Close as Progress Continues on MCDOT's White Flint Project Progress continues on MCDOT's project to construct a new, more walkable, more bikeable and more inviting urban street grid in the Pike District. Executive Boulevard between the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center entrance and Old Georgetown Road will permanently close next week to make way for the realignment of the street to connect to Pike & Rose as well as the realignment of the future Old Georgetown Road and Towne Road intersection. Read more. Bay Bridge Now Has All-Electronic Tolling System   The Maryland Transportation Authority has put cashless tolling in place on the Bay Bridge and statewide to protect drivers and toll collectors by eliminating interactions during the COVID-19 health crisis. Motorists who do not already have an E-ZPass® can enroll at ezpassmd.com to pay lower toll rates on the now-permanent electronic system.  Auto Club Offers Free Roadside Assistance For Health Care Workers And First Responders, Member Or Not AAA, the premier roadside assistance provider for more than 100 years, is offering local heroes a little peace of mind as they work to keep our communities safe and healthy.  Learn more. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT/covid19.html May 22, 2020 Don't Forget to Submit Your Census! Take 10 minutes to be counted now, visit 2020census.gov. Transportation-Related Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day Transportation-related schedule changes for the Memorial Day Holiday, May 25, are listed below: County Offices – Closed. Ride On – Essential Plan. Metrorail/Metrobus – www.wmata.com. TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center –  Open. Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – Free. MCDOT's Virtual Safety Week a Big Success MCDOT thanks the more than 2,500 elementary and middle school students and their families who participated in Virtual Safety Week. Hosted by MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School program, Safety Week used at-home interactive and creative activities and video demonstrations to emphasize the need to be safe and look out for others, regardless of how people travel. During the week, students participated in at-home interactive and creative activities and video demonstrations that are available online to learn more about how to travel safely.  May is National Bike Month Spend quality time together through bicycling. As stay at home orders continue, biking is a great way to maintain physical and mental health. Even short rides have massive benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, and improving happiness, mental focus, and sleep. Read more. MCDOT Closes Portion of Arlington Road to Vehicles on Weekends To provide more room on local streets for pedestrians and cyclists during COVID-19 health crisis, the portion of Arlington Road, between Kenwood Forest Lane and Little Falls Parkway, in Bethesda is closed to vehicles. As of this weekend, the closure to vehicles has been extended to include Arlington Road from Bradley Boulevard to Little Falls Parkway. Read more.  MCDOT’s Curbside Pickup Zones Support Restaurants and Businesses  MCDOT has dozens of temporary “Curbside Food Pickup” zones in Pike & Rose, Silver Spring, Bethesda and Wheaton to support restaurants that depend on carryout, curbside pickup and deliveries. For more information visit montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-parking/CurbsideFoodPickup.html Testing Helpline Now Available for County Residents For those residents who believe they need testing but do not have a primary care provider can call 240-777-1755. The line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Resident who call will be evaluated to see if they need testing, that is free. Have Questions? Call 311 For assistance with Montgomery County issues such as; down tree limbs, pot holes, illegal dumping, illegal signage, traffic and street light outages, storm drain issues, special bulk pick-up, permitting inspections, and more! MC311 Customer Service Center now offers a language interpretation service with over 150 languages available! For assistance, call 311 Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m, follow @311MC311 on Twitter or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/311 Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

Go Montgomery! Special Snow Edition

Five One-Minute Videos Answer the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Snow Removal Check out these informative videos that contain key information about what to expect during snow storms:   How MCDOT Responds to Snow Events Reporting an Issue During a Snow Storm In What Order are Streets Plowed? Parking During a Snow Storm Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Requirements MCDOT to Enhance Sustainable Salt Practices During Snow Removal MCDOT will be using new environmental controls to better balance salt use during snow removal operations this winter. Learn more. When Snow or Ice is Predicted, MCDOT Springs into Action MCDOT has 200 Highway Services employees and 175 pieces of equipment to handle snow operations. If more resources are needed, contractors can be called upon to immediately provide hundreds of pieces of additional equipment and plow operators. Learn more about how MCDOT tackles winter storms and read FAQ's. Before snow MCDOT will pre-treat primary and arterial roads with salt brine or salt depending on the storm profile. This helps us get ahead of the storm. Generally, plowing operations do not begin until at least three inches of snow have accumulated on the road. This helps protect both the road surface and the plow blades. Plowing operations focus on primary, arterial & emergency roads first before shifting into residential communities. Plowing operations are aimed at making the roads passable. Depending on how much snow falls, it may take several days before a plow can reach every street. MCDOT crews also clear sixty miles of sidewalks on County right-of-ways, and three miles of bike paths and trails. Residents are responsible for shoveling their own sidewalks. Who Plows My Street? MCDOT is responsible for clearing snow from 5,200 lane miles of County-maintained roads – but this doesn’t include every road in the County. Read more, or visit the County's Snow Portal to find out who plows your street.  Here are other agencies that also handle snow removal: Montgomery Parks clears snow on roads, bridges and trails inside local parks. Montgomery County Public Schools are responsible for sidewalks and parking lots on school property. WMATA is responsible for metro stations and parking lots.  Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) is responsible for roads that contain a number (exp; MD355, RT27). Report issues online or call 800-543-2515 or 410-582-5650. Ride On "S" (Storm) Service Plan When severe weather or emergencies are expected to disrupt Ride On bus service on weekdays, Ride On has the option of operating under its “S” or Storm Service Plan (English) (Spanish). Check for Ride On service interruptions. Here are Ride On bus routes that serve metrorail stations. Ride On contractors clear nearly 800 bus stops and work to keep transit centers clear of snow and ice. Follow Ride On on twitter @RideOnMCT for real-time service announcements related to weather. Information on Snow Emergency Routes Both the State of Maryland and Montgomery County have designated certain roads as Snow Emergency Routes, prominently marked with red and white signs. When the State and/or County initiates its snow emergency plan, it is illegal to park on these designated roads. Vehicles found blocking snow routes during an emergency may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. State and County snow emergency plans may not be put into effect simultaneously, so pay special attention to news broadcasts when announcements are made. Watch this video to learn more. During Snowstorms, When is Parking Free in County Garages? During a County Executive-declared snow emergency in Montgomery County, the MCDOT Director may announce that parking is free in County-owned garages and lots for residents to use for the duration of the snow emergency. This helps to get cars off the roads helping plowing operations and overall safety. Normal rates for on-street meters will still be in affect for non-snow emergency roadways. Real-time storm-related parking information will be posted on twitter. S.T.O.R.M App Offers New Features for Drivers The Maryland State Highway Administration added new features to its Statewide Transportation Operations Response Map (S.T.OR.M) app this year, available on computers and mobile devices. This web-based app shows the location and status of snow removal equipment across the state and, as part of the new features, drivers can now check the direction of where the plow trucks are heading and check the state's traffic cameras to have a better idea of the road conditions. Read the article and try out the S.T.O.R.M. App now. Do You Know the Difference Between a Winter Weather Advisory, Watch or Warning? Check the National Weather Service website for definitions about the difference between these and other weather-related advisories. Clearing Sidewalks of Snow and Ice - If You Own Property, It's Your Responsibility Clearing sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of a snowstorm is a civic responsibility that keeps our communities and neighbors safe – and it’s the law. Property owners are required to clear sidewalks in front of, and alongside, their properties. Be a good neighbor by clearing the sidewalks in front of your house and assisting those in your neighborhood who may need help. Read more.  www.montgomerycountymd.gov/safesidewalks DECEMBER 18, 2019 SIGN UP to receive the latest MCDOT News!  Follow us on twitter @MCDOTNow for real-time storm preparation and road conditions. Get Updates from the MCDOT SNOW PORTAL This handy, online website provides information on the latest delays and closings, the status of plowing in your neighborhood, get up-to-date snow-related information and submit a service request.  Winter Safety Tips For Drivers, Pedestrians and Snow Shovelers How to Prepare Before, During and After a Snow Storm For Your Pet and Pet Owners 22 Winter Tips For Parks and on Trails Ice & Cold Weather Avoiding Winter Fires in the Home Be Prepared for Power Outages Winter Car Checklist Winter Health Winter Heating Winterizing Your Home  With Hypothermia Alerts Last Week, Montgomery County Provides Cold Weather Information  Wear layers if you go outside and take extra precautions if you spend significant time outdoors. Learn more. WHO TO CALL Call 311 (or 240-777-0311 if outside the County) for information/status of County programs and services, to report unshoveled sidewalks, down trees and any other issue or visit 311 online at: montgomerycountymd.gov/311  UTILITIESFirst Energy/Potomac Edison: 1-888-544-4877 BG&E: 1-800-685-0123 PEPCO: 1-877-737-2662 Downed Wires “Hot” or sparking call: 911 POLICEEmergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 301-279-8000 SCHOOLS/MCPSCall: 240-740-3000 Spanish Hotline: 240-740-2845 (Línea Informativa en Español) or email: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org COUNTY SERVICESFollow snow removal progress on Facebook or Twitter. Library Branch Opening and Closing Status: 240-777-6500. Recycling and Trash Collections - for updated information about the collection schedule during snow storms, sign up for email or text updates, or follow Solid Waste on Twitter. WMATA (Metro Services) call 202-637-7000 or follow on Twitter. CABLE TV / SOCIAL MEDIACounty Cable Montgomery, Channel 6 for RCN Comcast subscribers and Channel 30 for Verizon subscribers, provide continuous updates on roadway conditions and transit services.  Don't forget to check MCDOT's SNOW PORTAL or WEBSITE for special announcements. Sign up for Montgomery County Alert Montgomery to receive emergency information, event updates, warnings and instructions directly to your email or device. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.