Go Montgomery: April 2018

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Go Montgomery! April 26, 2018

Plan to Attend the 4th Annual Montgomery County GreenFest on May 5

Greenfest is Montgomery County’s largest environmental festival. Visit MCDOT's booth to learn more about the department's green initiatives and stop by our Mobile Commuter Store to buy SmarTrip cards and passes or get more information about travel options. Learn more about GreenFest.

Pothole Repair a Year-Round Activity for MCDOT

While potholes have the reputation of being more prevalent in the spring, to MCDOT, they are a year-round affair. Four dedicated crews patrol in pothole trucks every weekday, weather permitting, responding to repair requests as well as stopping to fill any other potholes encountered. Read more about how to report potholes.

Ride On Celebrates Earth Month With Installation of Solar-Powered Lights at Bus Shelters

Forty-two Ride On bus shelters now have solar-powered lighting thanks to Ride On’s franchisee, Clear Channel Outdoor, which installs and maintains the County’s 500 bus shelters. The solar-powered bus shelters are located in areas where electric utilities do not have nearby power connections. Read more.

MCDOT Installing New Signage for Rustic RoadsMontgomery County Executive Ike Leggett joined County Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Marc Elrich to celebrate the new brown signs being installed by MCDOT throughout the County to help people identify rustic roadways. Montgomery County has almost 200 miles of protected, rustic roads, which are historic and scenic roadways that reflect the agricultural character and rural origins of the County.

MCDOT Slowing Traffic and Enhancing Pedestrian Safety in Downtown Bethesda

MCDOT is modifying the merge lane at Woodmont and Wisconsin avenues near the National Institutes of Health to improve safety. Read more in Bethesda Beat article by Andrew Metcalf.

Participate in Visualize 2045 and Provide Input on Region’s Long-Range Transportation Plan

Provide input that will help elected leaders and regional planners better understand public attitudes and opinion as they make decisions about the region’s transportation future. A Montgomery County session is planned for Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m., 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Read more.

2018 Storm Drain Art Contest Winners Announced

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection announced six winners of the 2018 Storm Drain Art Contest. The contest is part of the County's outreach efforts to educate residents on the importance of stormwater management and the connection between stormwater drains and our County streams and the Chesapeake Bay. MCDOT plays an important role in maintaining and repairing storm drains. Read more.

Metro Trolley Trestles in Montgomery County Found to Be Compromised; National Park Service Closes Trail

Metro structural engineers, in conjunction with the National Park Service, found that two former trolley trestle bridges in Montgomery County are structurally compromised. In the interest of public safety, the National Park Service closed the trail beneath the trolley trestle at Walhonding Road, known as the Sycamore Store Trail, until further notice. Read more.

April 26, 2018

Ride On Is Hiring

MCDOT is seeking full time and substitute bus operators for the depots in Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and Nicholson Court. Applicants without CDL licenses are encouraged to apply. Read more and apply online.

Wheaton Revitalization Updates

View the onsite construction camera online. Read the latest Weekly News. For additional information on the Wheaton Revitalization Project, visit www.wheatonproject.com

Stay Alert, Stay Alive: Don't Drive or Walk Distracted

The "Stay Alert, Stay Alive: Don't Drive or Walk Distracted effort is part of Montgomery County's Vision Zero initiative to reduce severe and fatal collisions among vehicle occupants, bicyclists and pedestrians. Urging drivers and pedestrians to stay alert while in the roadway. Distracted driving and distracted walking are two of the leading causes of crashes in Montgomery County.

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

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Go Montgomery! April 12, 2018

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held for New Bikeshare Stations

County Executive Ike Leggett, County Councilmember Roger Berliner, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and other dignitaries celebrated the installation of eight, new Bikeshare stations in the Pike District, Twinbrook and the City of Rockville, bringing the County’s Capital Bikeshare network to 82 stations. Read more.

Leggett, Roshdieh, Manna Food’s DeCarlo Kick Off Give and Ride Week, April 15 to 21

Ride On will launch its 31st annual Give and Ride program on Sunday. Donate food in exchange for a free ride and help Manna Food Center feed 11,000 hungry families and provide weekend food to 2,800 needy, elementary school students. Program participation has declined, but the need has increased. Even those who don’t use Ride On can participate by giving donations to any Ride On bus operator or dropping off donations directly to Manna Foods. Read more.

MCDOT Partnership with Public Schools Featured at Launch of “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” Awareness and Enforcement Campaign

The National Safety Council has designated April as Distracted Driving Awareness month. To promote safety, MCDOT and Montgomery County Public Schools are collaborating during Teen Pedestrian Safety Week, April 23 to 27, to reduce collisions resulting from distracted driving and walking. During the last five years, drivers have hit at least 292 teen pedestrians in Montgomery County, and five of those teens died. Read more.

Intersection Improvement Project to Begin in Silver Spring

MCDOT is creating a roundabout to improve the intersection at Judson Court, Judson Road and Henderson Avenue. The project will include new pedestrian and ADA access; storm drains; replacement of curbs; full depth road paving; and installation of signs and pavement markings. Work hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with temporary lane closures planned between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

MDOT to Hold Open Houses on I-270, I-495 Work

The Maryland Department of Transportation is seeking public input on traffic congestion projects planned for I-270 and the Capital Beltway. Two sessions will be held in Montgomery County on April 18 and 19. Read more.

Maryland Traffic Fatalities Down Nearly 11 Percent in the First Six Months of 2017 (From Spotlight on Highway Safety: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2017 Preliminary Data Governors Highway Safety Association)

Maryland traffic fatalities decreased by 10.9 percent in January through June of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The Governors Highway Safety Association has released a report about trends nationwide.

Seven Montgomery County Smart Driver TEK Workshops to be Offered in April by AARP

AARP offers Smart DriverTEK workshops to help drivers better understand the latest high-tech safety features in their current or future car. The 90-minute interactive workshop costs five dollars. Registration is required. Learn more and register online.

April 12, 2018

Repaving Project Updates

Quince Orchard Knolls Phase II Residential Resurfacing Project, North Potomac

Commuter Services Mobile Commuter Store

Visit @mococommuter to find out where the Mobile Commuter Store is parked today.

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

Monday, April 2, 2018

Go Montgomery! April 2, 2018

Participate in “Give and Ride” April 15 to 21 and Help Feed Area’s Neediest Families

Ride On bus passengers can help needy families and ride free by donating canned or nonperishable food during our 31st annual “Give and Ride” food drive. Ride On will collect donations from Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 21. Read more.

US 29 Open Houses RESCHEDULED

Two US 29 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) open houses will be held April 3 and 4. Find out how BRT will operate, how existing local bus service can better link with the US 29 BRT, about efforts to incorporate art into station designs, and view updates to the station area designs. Learn more.

MCDOT to Rehabilitate Bridge on Montevideo Road

MCDOT will begin a project on or about April 16 to replace the Montevideo Road Bridge in Poolesville, which will require two complete closures of the road, each of which will last for about five weeks. Read more.

MCDOT Doesn’t Just Plow Roads Anymore

MCDOT is committed to ensuring our transportation system is reliable – and that means keeping everyone mobile. That’s why during inclement weather, in addition to the 5,200 lane miles of roads that are cleared, MCDOT also removes snow from more than 50 miles of sidewalks and trails, 295 Ride On bus stops, 500 bus shelters and protected bike lanes.

Bike to Work Day Registration Now Open

On Friday, May 18, 2018 Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association will sponsor Bike to Work Day, an annual celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Be one of the first 20,000 to register and receive a free T-shirt when attending. MCDOT sponsors pit stops throughout Montgomery County. Learn more and register online.

Ride On Bus Operator Margaret Douglas Provides Great Service

On March 27, a Ride On bus passenger commended bus operator, Margaret Douglas, and sent Ride On this email:

Today at 5:55 pm, I was picked up on East West Highway towards Friendship Heights and had one of the friendliest bus drivers around! She greeted everybody! She said goodbye when people exited the bus and was happy to be driving. It was refreshing! Kudos to Bus Driver #1!

MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh to be a Guest at Next East County Citizens Advisory Committee

On Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 7 p.m., MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh will update the East County Citizens Advisory Committee on transportation issues of interest to their community. Read more.

MCDOT’s Senior Transportation Services Help Montgomery County Gain Recertification as Age-Friendly Community

Montgomery County has earned renewed certification in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, as part of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The certification recognizes Montgomery County’s achievements in becoming even more age-friendly. Learn more about the County’s transportation and mobility services for seniors and those with disabilities. Read more about the recertification process that evaluates the County’s initiatives.

April 2, 2018