MCDOT Celebrated Bike to Work Day - May 20

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Commuter Services sponsored six of 83 regional pit stops for Bike to Work Day.  Raffles were held at each pit stop to give away great prizes and a grand prize of a new bicycle. 

MCDOT sponsored pit stops were held at the following locations:

Bethesda Location: Reed Street, corner of Woodmont & Bethesda Aves

(near Capital Crescent Trail)- view on map
Pit Stop Time: 6:30 am to 9:00 am

North Bethesda – U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Plaza Location: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Plaza (across the street from the White Flint Metro Station)
Address: 11555 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD  20852

Pit Stop Time: 6:30 am to 8:30 am

Rockville – Fallsgrove Location: Fallsgrove Village Center (Smoothie King parking lot)

Address: 14941 Shady Grove Road, Rockville MD 20850

Pit Stop Time: 6:30 to 8:30 am

Friendship Heights Location: Wisconsin Place Plaza (Wisconsin & Western Avenues) adjacent to the Metro station.
Address: 5311 Friendship Blvd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Pit Stop Time: 6:30 am to 9:00 am

Rockville Town Center Location: Rockville Town Center (in front of Dawson’s Market)

Address: 225 N. Washington St. Rockville, MD 20850
Pit Stop Time: 6:30 am to 9:00 am

Silver Spring – Discovery Place Location: Georgia and Wayne Aves – view on map
Pit Stop Time: 6:30 am to 9:00 am

County Executive Leggett Designates the Week of May 15 as Transportation Week

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has proclaimed the week of May 15 as Transportation Week, joining communities across the country in recognizing the importance of transportation infrastructure to the economy, safety and well-being of communities. 

MCDOT Wins Funding for Bus Rapid Transit Station Design

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has been awarded $80,000 from the Transportation Safety Board’s Transportation/Land-Use Connections Program to create a conceptual design for the County’s future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations. The design will outline the components needed for the station, such as seating, heat, lighting and other elements. The project will create a template that is customizable for adjacent land uses, the local environment, and projected ridership through the use of modular elements. Cost estimates will also be developed. 

More information about Transportation/Land-Use Connections Program is available online.

Update on Highway Services Road Resurfacing and Repair Projects

MCDOT extends the life of roads by making full depth, permanent patches. Deteriorated areas are excavated and the road base is repaired with hot mix asphalt.

MCDOT began repairs in Bannockburn Estates, Phase II in Bethesda in May, which is expected to take five weeks to complete, weather permitting. Residents should expect noise and daily short-term parking restrictions during construction. Advisory signs will be posted. Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some work on Saturdays may be needed.

Bannockburn Estates Neighborhood Map

Highway Services will also resurface residential roadways in the Quail Valley neighborhood in Gaithersburg. The project includes road base full depth patching; pavement and edge milling; utility adjustments; paving with hot mix asphalt; replacing roadway lane markings; and repairs to concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters.  

Quail Valley neighborhood map

Highway to Begin Bel Pre Woods Community Rehabilitation Project in June

MCDOT’s Highway Services will begin a project in June to rehabilitate the roads, sidewalks and curbs in the Bel Pre Woods community in Rockville under a program that is taking a more systematic and comprehensive approach to maintaining the County’s transportation infrastructure. 

MCDOT will remove and replace deteriorated curbs and gutters, grind up the old roadway surface, further evaluate the road substructure for damage, patch where needed and reconstruct the roads with hot mix asphalt. Damaged sidewalks will be replaced or repaired. In addition, road drainage will be modified where there is no underground drainage.

Residents may elect to have their driveway aprons and lead walks resurfaced under a program that allows residents to have the work done using the County’s competitively bid prices. More information about the Driveway Apron and Lead Walk program is available online.  

MCDOT assesses the condition of all 5,300 lane miles of County roads every two years assigning ratings to each road using a formula-based scoring system. The scores then serve as the basis for prioritizing the department’s maintenance, rehabilitation and resurfacing efforts.

MCDOT’s road condition ratings help direct resources to maintain the high quality of good roads and target the worst roads for rehabilitation and repair. Every dollar spent by the County to keep a road in good repair reduces future repair costs that would have to be spent to restore a more deteriorated road.  More information is available online.

Bel Pre Woods Roadway Rehabilitation Project Map

MCDOT to Begin Project to Replace Elmhirst Parkway Bridge

Starting about May 20, Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Division of Transportation Engineering will begin a project to replace the Elmhirst Parkway Bridge, located on Elmhirst Parkway between West Cedar Lane and Elmhirst Lane, in Bethesda. The bridge was constructed in 1940 and is in poor condition.

The construction is expected to take about nine months during which Elmhirst Parkway will be closed to traffic and detour routes established. The Elmhirst Parkway Hiker/Biker Trail will remain open. “Curbside” government services (such as recycling, mail delivery, etc.) will not be impacted by the road closure. Driveways and entrances will remain accessible at all times.

Construction will take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Occasional Saturday work may be necessary to make up for weather delays.

Stay up to date on project details online.

Highway Services to Replace Culverts in Damascus and Silver Spring

Montgomery Count Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Division of Highway Services will be replacing two culverts in Damascus and Silver Spring that are failing. The  first is located on Long Corner Road at Scott Branch in Damascus. Two, 36-inch, storm drain culverts will be replaced by two, 48-inch ones. During the three-month construction period, a section of the road will be closed to through traffic; however, local traffic will continue to have access to homes located along Long Corner Road. A detour will redirect drivers to Mullinix Mill Road and MD 108. For more information read the Long Corner Road Newsletter. 

A second project will replace a badly eroded culvert under Connecticut Avenue between Georgia Avenue and Bel Pre Road. It will be replaced with two concrete box culverts to provide greater strength and durability. The project will be managed by MCDOT and the Maryland State Highway Administration.

During the three-month construction project, minimal lane closures will be required. Temporary concrete barriers will be installed to protect workers and drivers and variable message signs will be installed to direct drivers.

During Phase 1 of the project, staff will shift traffic lanes on the east side of Connecticut Avenue During Phase 2, traffic will shift to the west side.

MCDOT Celebrated Bike to School Day on May 4

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) joined communities throughout the nation in celebrating Bike to School Day on May 4.  The event builds on the popularity of Walk to School Day and encourages kids to safely bike or walk to school.

This year, MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator Nadji Kirby worked with the Takoma Park Safe Routes to School Coordinator Lucy Neher and Safe Kids to provide bike helmets and do a bicycle helmet safety check and fitting for children participating in the event at Piney Branch Elementary School. Kids on their bikes or scooters met in the parking lot of Franklin Apartments and after the safety check, rode to school. Staff held a raffle and distributed prizes, including bike locks and bike lights. About 70 children participated this year.

Other schools in the County also celebrated Bike to School Day, including Bells Mill Elementary School, which prepared with a week-long bike rodeo during its physical education classes. MCDOT provided Cold Spring Elementary School with bike helmets for its raffle along with other items for those who rode on Bike to School Day. Takoma Park Middle School provided incentive items to participants.

More information about the annual Bike to School Day is available online. Note: Not all Montgomery County schools that participate in Bike to School Day register on the national website.

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.”

Ride On Food Drive Collects over 6,000 Pounds of Food During Give and Ride Week

(From left to right) Transit Services Division Chief Carolyn Biggins, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh, County Executive Ike Leggett and Manna Food Executive Director Jackie DeCarlo kick off Give and Ride with their own food donations.

Passengers on Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Ride On bus system donated 6,258 pounds of food this year during the annual “Give and Ride” food drive that took place during the week of April 24. 

“Every year, Ride On sponsors the Give and Ride food drive for a week during April,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “We appreciate the generosity of our passengers and employees who donate to help local elementary-school students access food over the weekend.”

For nearly 30 years, Ride On has sponsored the program that provides bus passengers free rides when they donate canned or nonperishable food. The food benefits Manna Food Center, a Gaithersburg-based non-profit organization, that distributes about 70 pounds of fresh and nonperishable food to each of more 3,600 local families every month. They also distribute weekly “Smart Sacks” of nutritious food to 2,450 local elementary school students. Manna is finding it harder to meet the needs of residents in the area and will gladly accept donations year-round.

For bus stop locations or bus schedules, check RideOnRealTime.com, or call 311 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 240-777-0311 from a cell phone or outside the County or TDD/TTY 301-251-4850. Route and timetable information also is available on the RideOnBus.com website.

Montgomery Planning Seeks Public Input On MARC Rail Plans for Boyds and Germantown

 

Montgomery Planning is seeking public input on a new MARC Rail Communities Plan that builds on the recommendations of the previous 1985 Boyds Master Plan, the 1989 Germantown Master Plan and the 2009 Germantown Employment Area Sector Plan. The new plan will examine in greater detail the land uses, zoning, design and multimodal access to the two MARC stations. Read more. 

Updates on Two Bethesda-Area Parking Garages

A portion of the Woodmont-Rugby Avenue garage in Bethesda is closed to parkers and construction is expected to begin later this year on a new parking garage for the North Bethesda Marriott Conference Center.

Part of the Woodmont-Rugby Avenue County parking garage, closest to the Rugby Avenue entrance, is permanently closed, eliminating 119 parking spaces (22 short-term, 97 long-term), which will be used to store police vehicles and equipment. The entrance remains open to pedestrians. A new 2nd district police station will be constructed on the vacant lot adjacent to the garage.

An online fact sheet lists nearby parking alternatives.

 

Construction is expected to begin later this year on a new six-level, 650-space parking garage that will replace the surface parking lot at the North Bethesda Marriott Conference Center. The project is expected to take 12 to 15 months.

A conceptual design of the parking garage planned for the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

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.

Metro Offers New SelectPass for a Limited Time

Metro is offering a new pass that it says can save 20 percent or more for those who take frequent short- and mid-range trips within the Metro system. The SelectPass, which is loaded to a registered SmarTrip® card, is designed for riders who take Metro four times or more each week and whose typical trip costs between $2.25 and $3.75 one way.  Learn more about SelectPass

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SHA Begins Sligo Creek Trail Improvements in Montgomery County; Upgrades Include New Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Realignments

Hikers and cyclists who use a popular trail in Montgomery County will soon enjoy an improved walk or ride in Takoma Park.  The Maryland Department of Transportation’sState Highway Administration (SHA) is beginning a $1.9 million bicycle and pedestrian improvement project in the southeast quadrant of the MD 320 (Piney Branch Road) and Sligo Creek Parkway intersection.  Weather permitting, construction will be complete by the end of the year. More.

Capital Crescent Garage Wins Award

  

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Division of Parking Management won two awards for the Capital Crescent Garage, located at Woodmont and Bethesda avenues in Bethesda. The “Best Design of a Parking Facility" with 800 or more spaces and the 'Marketing and Communication Award' for its campaign to promote parking innovation from the International Parking Institute. Read more about the garage and the International Parking Institute.

Go Montgomery - May 3, 2016

Roshdieh Announces Release of New Departmental Sustainability Policy to Coincide with County’s GreenFest Celebration Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Al Roshdieh released a refreshed Sustainability Policy for the department that provides a framework for creating an even more sustainable transportation system. Sustainability in this context is much broader than consideration of environmental impacts. It is a holistic approach that balances the impact of our actions on the environment, economy and society. MCDOT has also incorporated education and outreach efforts as a sustainability goal to inform residents, businesses and visitors of the importance of their choices in supporting a sustainable future. Read more. Renovated Colesville Highway Maintenance Depot Opens; Plaque Honoring Leo Brooks Unveiled Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Al Roshdieh and MCDOT Highway Services Division Chief Richard Dorsey celebrated the reopening of the Colesville Highway Maintenance Depot. The 1981 antiquated facility has been refurbished and expanded to provide better service to the public in the eastern part of the County. In addition, a plaque was installed to honor the memory of Leo Brooks, a Colesville Depot employee who lost his life last year while on the job. Read more. MCDOT Was Active Participant in This Year’s GreenFest; Roshdieh was Featured Speaker at “Leave Your Car at Home” Workshop Sponsored by Local Community Green Groups Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) booth at this year’s GreenFest was a big success, attracting hundreds of residents who wanted to learn more about the department’s “green initiatives,” including plans for a Bus Rapid Transit system, Ride On, Bikeshare and bike trails, pedestrian safety, commuter services, electric vehicle charging stations in parking garages, street sweeping and leaf collection. Read more. New Westfield Montgomery Mall Transit Center Serves Ride On Routes 6, 26, 42, 47 and 96, and Metrobus Routes J2 and J3. The new Westfield Mall Transit Center opened on May 1 and features many customer amenities, including bus bays for both Ride On and Metrobus for easy transfers, protection from the weather, plenty of convenient commuter parking, bicycle racks, real-time information displays showing the future arrival times of buses, and heated waiting areas with seating. Read more. MD 355 Bus Rapid Transit Open House Scheduled for May 3 The Maryland Department of Transportation and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation are hosting an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gaithersburg High School Cafeteria so that the public can learn more about and provide input on plans to develop Bus Rapid Transit along the MD 355 corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. Read more. The Faces of Transit: How Modern Public Transportation is Good for All of Us Casa de Maryland and the Coalition for Smarter Growth are hosting a conversation about transit that focuses on how the Purple Line and Bus Rapid Transit will help residents get to work, create more jobs, and bring neighbors together. The discussion is planned for Tuesday, May 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Read more. Montgomery County's Metropolitan Branch Trail Plans Are Ready for Review and Comment The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has completed designs for the remaining northern section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. Read more. May 3, 2016 MCDOT Installs 57th Bikeshare Station The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has installed its 57th Capital Bikeshare station at East West Highway and 16th Street in Silver Spring. The station has 19 docking stations and 10 bikes. Close to many apartment buildings, it is about a mile from the Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center. More information about Bikeshare is available online. Ride On Bus Schedule Changes Ride On service changes to 14 bus routes began Sunday, May 1 for Routes 4, 23, 29, 31, 37, 44, 46, 54, 57, 59, 63, 64, 75 and 81. Most of the changes involve only minor time adjustments so that bus schedules more closely match actual travel times in traffic. Celebrate Bike to School Day on May 4 Bike to School Day is an annual event that encourages children to safely bicycle or walk to school. The event builds on the popularity of Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October. Learn more. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.