Montgomery County Residents Encouraged to Participate in Annual ‘Car-Free Day' to be Held on Friday, September 22; Register to Participate for Raffled Prizes

MCDOT encourages Montgomery County residents to participate in Car Free Day, a worldwide event that encourages traveling in ways that are greener than driving alone, such as walking, riding a bicycle, rail, bus, in a carpool or teleworking. Using more sustainable ways to get around helps reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion. The more people that travel using alternative modes, the fewer greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

MCDOT will provide a “fare-free day” on Ride On buses. The action is coordinated with the Maryland Transit Administration who is offering free rides on Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC, Commuter Bus and Mobility service starting Friday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Sept. 24. 

Residents are invited to take the pledge to participate in Car Free Day by going car-free or car-lite on Friday, Sept. 22. Each entry will be entered into a raffle for some great prizes. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Participants can take the pledge online here.

MCDOT’s Commuter Services team will be at the following locations with free giveaways and pledge cards that can be filled out to enter in a raffle drawing for gift cards, Capital Bikeshare annual membership or a $200 Smart Trip card:

• Bethesda Metro Station. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Friendship Heights Shops at Wisconsin Place. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Germantown Transit Center. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Shady Grove Metro Station. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Silver Spring Metro Station. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Twinbrook Metro Station. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Wheaton Marian Fryer Plaza. 6:30 am to 8:30 am
• White Oak Transit Center. 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
• Lake Forest Transit Center. 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Wheaton Marian Fryer Plaza at the Hispanic Heritage Festival. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Residents and employees working in the County who do not have a bike available can use the Capitol Bikeshare system. Thousands of pedal bikes and e-bikes are provided throughout the region, including Montgomery County. Check out a bike and return it to any bikeshare station near your destination. Single trip, daily and yearly memberships are available. The first 30 minutes of each trip is free. Visit the Bikeshare location map here. 

Many shared e-scooters are also available in higher activity areas of the County for use by those taking short trips or to get to and from transit.  Visit: montgomerycountymd.gov/commute and click on Bike and Scooter Sharing for more information.

Participants can take the pledge at carfreemetrodc.org/the-car-free-pledge. 

CARFREEMETRODC.ORG

MCDOT Celebrated Car Free Day on September 22

MCDOT’s Commuter Services staff were busy on Car Free Day, rewarding transit users with giveaways at many locations throughout the County. See some photos on Flickr. 

Improvements to Bethesda-Elm Parking Garage Significantly Reduces Energy Use

MCDOT’s Division of Parking Management has upgraded the lighting in the Bethesda-Elm Parking Garage in Bethesda by installing LED (light emitting diode) fixtures that are reducing kilowatt usage by 32 percent.

MCDOT Expands Car Sharing Options in County Parking Garages

Photo By Robert Dyer - Bethesda Row

Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Division of Parking Management has expanded the number of public parking spaces reserved for car sharing services to 55. Car sharing provides more transportation options for those who only need a car occasionally. Zipcar locations are in many County public parking facilities in Bethesda, Silver Spring, North Bethesda, Wheaton and Chevy Chase. The complete list is available online.

TPB Releases New App to Aid Finding a Carpool

(Photo provided by Lyft)

CarpoolNow is a new, free app that matches drivers and riders through their smartphones in the way that ride-hailing companies locate a driver. Commuter Connections, a Transportation Planning Board program focused on promoting travel modes other than driving alone, developed the app as another way for commuters to find carpool partners. 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.

Awards are made in three categories: incentives, marketing and telework. An employer in the region is eligible if it initiated, enhanced or expanded an alternative commute or telework program that were in place by January 1, 2015.

Applications are evaluated by a committee that chooses winners “based on their ability to offer measurable commuter benefits that reduce automobile fuel consumption and emissions through fewer vehicle trips and miles traveled.”

Submit the nomination form online. Contact Douglas Franklin at Commuter Connections with questions, at 202-962-3792 or dfranklin@mwcog.org.

Transit Benefit Raised to $255 a Month in 2016

An end of 2015 tax deal passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the president includes a provision that raises the maximum tax-exempt transit and vanpool benefit employers can provide to equal the maximum allowed for parking benefits. The monthly maximum on transit, vanpool, and parking benefits increased to $255 a month on January 1, 2016. Read more.

  

Employers: 2015 Commuter Survey is Now Available

Montgomery County's annual commuter survey has been sent to selected employers. Employer participation is vital, because the information collected from employees through the survey helps the County and other jurisdictions in the region plan for future transportation projects - and that affects commuters and employers alike.

Participating employers benefit by receiving an analysis of the data collected from their own employees. The information can provide insights into how particular commute options can be tailored to benefit their workforce.

Employees who complete the survey are eligible for prizes. Survey answers are completely confidential (names and phone numbers are used only for prize drawings), so employees can respond candidly and thoroughly. Survey questions focus on employees' commute hours and distance, travel modes, vehicle occupancy, parking, access to various types of assistance, and the likely impact of services and programs on their transportation choices.          

Montgomery County Commuter Services works with employers to develop alternative commute programs and services that are mutually beneficial to employers and their employees. More information about Montgomery County Commuter Services is available online.           

Car Sharing Now Available in Montgomery County

Two car sharing companies, Zipcar and Hertz on Demand, have recently expanded the availability of their cars in Montgomery County following a competitive bid process.   Twenty-six vehicles are now available at 13 locations in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Montgomery Hills, and North Bethesda.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation provided public parking spaces for car sharing vehicles, and the companies are paying established parking rates for use of the County parking spaces.

The following new car share locations are prominently marked by signs:

Zipcar

• Metropolitan Garage, 7601 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda

• Bethesda Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Arlington Road, Bethesda

• Cordell Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda

• Ellsworth Drive between Fenton Street and Veterans Place, Silver Spring

• Fenton Street between Colesville Road and Cameron Street, Silver Spring

• Cameron Street between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street, Silver Spring

• Wheaton Market Place Lot, 11219 Grandview Avenue, Wheaton

• Parking Lot, Seminary Road and Sutton Place, 1920 Seminary Road, Montgomery Hills

• Executive Boulevard between Rockville Pike and Woodglen Drive, North Bethesda

Hertz On Demand

• Metropolitan Garage, 7601 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda

• Middleton Lane Parking Lot, 4538 Middleton Lane, Bethesda

• Bonifant/Dixon Garage, Silver Spring

• Fenton Street between Wayne Avenue and Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring

More information on using car share vehicles is available from Hertz and Zipcar.  For more information on the County’s programs promoting alternatives to driving alone – including car sharing – visit Commuter Services’ website or call Commuter Services at (240) 777-8380