MonsterFlash at Twinbrook Library's Story Hour on Saturday, Oct. 26
Join Montgomery County Public Libraries and MCDOT for MonsterFlash at Twinbrook Library located at 202 Meadow Hall Drive in Rockville, from 10 a.m. - noon. This bilingual, family-friendly event will feature story time, a dance party, a scavenger hunt, and a tour of MonsterFlash, MCDOT's not-so-spooky "haunted" bus.
The MCDOT project team will be on hand to answer questions about the upcoming Flash Bus Rapid Transit project on Veirs Mill Road.
MCDOT is working to implement Flash bus rapid transit service across the County, starting construction in the Veirs Mill Road corridor next year to implement faster, high-frequency bus service and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in the corridor.
MonsterFlash at HalloWheaton
Join MonsterFlash at HalloWheaton from noon - 4 p.m. at Marion Fryer Town Plaza located at 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton. MonsterFlash is an annual tradition at this family-friendly festival, which also includes activities such as s'mores roasting, mask and pumpkin painting, beer garden, craft projects, a costume contest and more!
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MCDOT is partnering with the State to celebrate “Walktober,” a month-long series of activities in October promoting Maryland’s official exercise: walking. Maryland named walking as the official State exercise in 2008.
MCDOT will be hosting a series of outreach events throughout the County designed to highlight the importance of walking and to promote the work being done under the Vision Zero program to make walking in Montgomery County safer for people of all ages and abilities.
MCDOT Walktober outreach events include:
MCDOT Celebrated ‘Walk and Roll to School Day’ on Wednesday, Oct. 9
MCDOT and Vision Zero partnered for “Walk and Roll to School Day” with a fun-filled morning event at Fox Chapel Elementary School in Germantown.
Schools are encouraged to participate year-round in free safety programs online here.
Portions of the event were streamed live on the @MCDOTNow X account and photos can be found on MCDOT’s Flickr page.
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Walkinar #3: Sidewalks to Safety: Ensuring Secure Routes for Students on Thursday, Oct. 17
MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School Manager, Duwan Morris, will be a panelist on a webinar to discuss Safe Routes to School projects that enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk, roll and bike to school. Register for the free webinar. For a full list of free walkinars, visit the MDOT website.
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Pedestrian Safety Outreach
MCDOT outreach teams will be at various locations throughout the month to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety and talk with residents about recent safety improvements, including infrastructure projects and pedestrian hybrid beacons. View the upcoming locations here.
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Annual Bike Drive to Repurpose Bicycles to be Held on Friday, Oct. 11, in Rockville
Unused bicycles can become a valuable transportation resource for Montgomery County residents in need. MCDOT’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact.
Bikes will be collected, rain or shine, outside of the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at the corner of East Jefferson and Monroe Street in Rockville.
Bicycles should be in good working condition or need only minor repairs. Rockville Bike Hub volunteers will refurbish the bikes, and MCDOT will place them with children and adults in the County through the MCDOT Bike Match Program or the Rockville Terrific Kids program.
Tax-deductible receipts will be available.
Montgomery County Wins APTA Innovation Award for Brookville Smart Energy Solar Charging Bus Depot
MCDOT and the Department of General Services (DGS) have been awarded the 2024 Innovation Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for the Brookville Smart Energy Solar Charging Depot in Silver Spring.
The 2024 APTA Awards recognize those in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence and whose accomplishments and innovations have greatly advanced public transportation. This prestigious national award is among the most competitive.
The Brookville Depot features solar panels installed on tall canopies with charging stations, onsite battery storage and backup generation at an existing MCDOT Ride On bus depot. It will provide clean, renewable energy to charge up to 70 electric buses by 2026, with ample electric storage. The project contributes significantly to expanding the needed infrastructure for the growing MCDOT zero-emission bus fleet.
The project was completed through a partnership between DGS and AlphaStruxure, a leader in Energy as a Service (EaaS) solutions. The microgrid and charging infrastructure was delivered at no upfront cost to the County through the EaaS contract, a long-term agreement ensuring predictable operating expenses and guaranteed performance for sustainability, resilience and reliability.
MCDOT and DGS released a Zero Emissions Bus Transition Plan this past spring. MCDOT is actively seeking federal funding to purchase additional zero emission buses. Montgomery County DGS has already started construction on an even larger microgrid needed to support the County bus transition in Derwood.
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Montgomery County Receives $520,000 in Federal Funds for Intersection Safety and Community Engagement Efforts
Montgomery County has been awarded $520,000 in Federal funding through the Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The funds will be used to update the County’s Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan with community input and to implement the Safe Turns Demonstration Project, which will test the use of temporary, quick-build materials to sharpen driver turns to reduce unsafe turning speeds at 100 crash-prone intersections. The Federal funds will be complemented by a $130,000 County match.
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In Person Community Meetings on School Walkability Studies Addressing Safety Needs in Montgomery County
MCDOT will hold a series of in-person meetings to present the findings of six school walkability studies. The meetings will show study findings and discuss the sidewalk and safety needs of students walking and biking to the studied schools.
Each of the walkability studies reviewed the condition of existing infrastructure and recommended improvements that may be implemented within the school walkshed to provide safe and accessible routes for students walking and biking to school. These community meetings will help County staff better understand safety needs and plan future sidewalk and safety improvement projects within the school walkshed.
The public is invited to the following Walkshed Safety Evaluation meetings:
Comments and questions on these projects may be submitted by email to walkyourway@montgomerycountymd.gov or by phone 240-777-2192. The deadline to submit comments is Sunday, Jan. 5. Written feedback will carry the same weight as oral testimony.
Registration is not required to attend. Public feedback and information provided will become a matter of public record.
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Public Feedback Sought on Norwood Road Shared-Use Path Project in Sandy Spring Through Wednesday, Oct. 23
A public information meeting was held on Wednesday, Sept. 25, to share project scope, schedule and costs, obtain community input, and answer questions. Public input is important to the success of all public infrastructure projects, as it allows the County to understand the community's concerns.
The Norwood Shared-Use Path project provides a shared-use path along the west side of Norwood Road from Olney-Sandy Spring Road/MD 108 to Ashton Forest Way. The proposed path is approximately 1,350 feet long and fills in a missing gap in Heritage Triangle Trail.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or via email to the Project Manager, Hoang Nguyen at Hoang.Nguyen@montgomerycountymd.gov by 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23.
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MCDOT Offers Adult Bike and Scooter Classes in November
The weekend bike classes are taught by experienced Washington Area Bicyclist Association instructors and include Learn to Ride and Basic Skills.
Participants must be 18 or older. Registration is required to attend the bike classes.
- Saturday, Nov. 2. 10 a.m.-noon. Basic Skills at Burtonsville Park and Ride Lot Behind the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center, 387 National Drive, Burtonsville.
- Sunday, Nov. 3. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn to Ride at Farm Women’s Market, Lot 24, 4601 Leland Street, Bethesda.
- Saturday, Nov. 9. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn to Ride at Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring.
Drop by anytime during the below e-scooter class. No registration is required and walk-ups are welcome. Individuals must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s license or ID.
- Sunday, Oct. 27. 1-3 p.m. E-Scooter class at Westfield Montgomery Mall former Sears parking lot, 7101 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda.
Rain dates for all classes will be two weeks from the original class date and time.
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MCDOT Offers Safety Tips Ahead of Halloween
With Halloween (Thursday, Oct. 31) and Daylight Savings Time (Sunday, Nov. 3) approaching, MCDOT is urging drivers and pedestrians to use extra caution when traveling during evening hours.
MCDOT suggests these tips to help keep trick-or-treaters safe:
- Drivers should slow down and be alert.
- Never drive after consuming alcohol.
- Drivers and trick-or-treaters should avoid looking at electronic devices and be aware of their surroundings.
- Parents and trick-or-treaters can make themselves more easily seen by carrying glow sticks or flashlights, using reflective tape or stickers on costumes and wearing light colors.
- Trick-or-Treaters should always walk on sidewalks or paths when available.
MCDOT wishes you a fun and safe Halloween!
SoberRide Offers Free Lyft Rides for Halloween Celebrations
The Washington Region Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) SoberRide program will offer a limited number of codes for a FREE Lyft ride home (up to $15) from 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 until 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27. For more information, visit wrap.org/soberride.
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MCDOT's Ride On extRa bus service provides an elevated bus experience:
- Higher-frequency buses 8-20 minutes during peak periods.
- Free Wi-Fi access, USB charging ports, information displays, and extra padding on seats
- Regular $1 Ride On fare
- Faster service with portions of dedicated bus lanes and traffic signal priority for newer routes.
The 355/Rockville Pike extRa bus (Route 101) runs up and down the Pike every 20 minutes during weekday rush hours, Monday-Friday, 5:25-9:30 a.m. and 3:25-7:30 p.m.
Last month MCDOT launched two new extRa routes as part of the Great Seneca’s Transit Network. These corridors named ‘Pink’ and ‘Lime’ run east-west connections between the Shady Grove Metro and the Traville Gateway Transit Center, adjacent to the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. On weekdays the Pink and Lime extRa buses come every 15 minutes, 8 minutes on the Pink line during rush hours. Weekend service is every 30 minutes.
- Pink Route: links the Shady Grove Road corridor with the Life Sciences Center via Medical Center Drive
- Lime Route: uses I-370 to provide an express route to RIO, Crown Farm, and the heart of the Great Seneca Life Sciences Center
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Weekend Track Work and Service Information for Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day
This weekend, Saturday, Oct. 12 through Monday, Oct. 14, buses will replace trains on parts of the Red Line for track work to replace switches, remove vegetation, maintain gates, and perform cable insulation testing. The repairs will require station closures at four Red Line stations: Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, and North Bethesda.
Local and express shuttle bus service will replace trains between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore.
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight, operating on Saturday frequencies at all stations. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. MetroAccess customers may make a reservation to travel on the holiday; however, subscription trips will be canceled.
70% of D.C.-Area Bus Riders Don’t Pay - Here’s What Metro Is Doing About It
The transit agency is proposing a new funding model where jurisdictions will get credit for paid ridership while subsidizing unpaid riders.
Leaders at the D.C. Metro system have been touting a huge drop in fare evasion at train stations since new, higher gates were installed. But only 30 percent of bus riders pay for the service, and the agency is considering a dramatic change to its funding model that would reduce the cost for jurisdictions whose riders pay their fares, officials said. Read the Washington Post article here.
Rockville Named the Best Small City in Maryland
Rockville ranked in the top 5% of small cities in the U.S., and the best small city in Maryland, according to a WalletHub comparison published Tuesday. Read the MoCo 360 article here.
Red-Light Cameras Arrive in Takoma Park
Takoma Park Police will be installing red-light cameras at seven intersections in the city over the next three weeks to “deter dangerous driving behavior. Speed cameras are typically managed by police agencies. View the locations here.
Commuter Connections Celebrates 50 Years of Serving DC Area Commuters
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, officials from across the region gathered at the National Press Club to celebrate Commuter Connections’ 50th anniversary and reflected on its strong track record of helping commuters find smarter ways to work, while reducing traffic and air pollution.
Over the past half century, Commuter Connections has grown to offer a wide range of free services, including a system that matches people with similar commutes together for carpools and vanpools, the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which provides commuters with a free ride home in the event of an unexpected emergency, personal illness, or unscheduled overtime, as well as several incentive programs that reward commuters when they choose alternatives to driving alone or avoid driving during peak hours of traffic.
Maryland Department of Transportation’s Purple Line Work Continues
View Purple Line updates here.
MARC Train Commuters: MARC Brunswick Line Schedule Adjustments at Kensington Extended
Maryland Transit Administration announces the extension of the Brunswick Line schedule adjustments and 50% off travel promotion between Garrett Park, Kensington, Silver Spring, and Union Station.
Use Lime to Vote
Through the "Lime to the Polls" initiative, Lime is offering two free 30-minute rides to vote early starting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and running through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Lime scooters and e-bikes will be available for free using promo code VOTE2024.
Lyft to Discontinue Scooter Service in DC This October
In a news release published at the beginning of September, Lyft outlined its future plans for bikes, e-bikes, scooters and more.
The release stated that Lyft discontinued its dockless scooters in the District on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Lyft said that any riders in D.C. can still use the app to rent a bike or scooter from Capital Bikeshare or to call a Lyft ride.
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