Go Montgomery! October 30, 2018

Get There in a Flash: Groundbreaking Held for BRT on US 29 MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh joined County Executive Ike Leggett, Senator Chris Van Hollen, County Council President Riemer and other dignitaries at a groundbreaking ceremony for the County’s "FLASH" BRT, the first Bus Rapid Transit system. Opening in 2020, it will provide a reliable and affordable link between Silver Spring, White Oak, and Burtonsville. Read more and view photos. Leggett Addresses County's Preparedness to Handle Winter Storms County Executive Ike Leggett, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and MCDOT Highway Services Division Chief Richard Dorsey discussed the County’s readiness for the 2018-2019 winter storm season at the department’s annual Snow Summit. Read more and view photos. Public Invited to Provide Input on Possible Expansion of Dockless Bikeshare and Allowing e-Bikes and e-Scooters MCDOT seeks public input at one of three Town Hall meetings on the potential expansion of dockless bikeshare beyond the current pilot area in Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Input is also sought on whether to allow the use of pedal-assist, electric “e-bikes” and e-scooters. Read more. Community Service Day Bike Drive a Success This year’s MCDOT-sponsored bike drive collected 100 bikes as well as bike parts and helmets. MCDOT worked with Rockville Bike Hub and Bikes for the World. to organize the event. Volunteers from the organizations refurbish the bikes and ensure they are donated to low income residents in Montgomery County and throughout the world.  To Improve Safety, MCDOT Installs One of the First HAWK Pedestrian Signals in Maryland MCDOT has activated one of the first HAWK (high intensity activated crosswalk) pedestrian signals in Maryland on Muddy Branch Road at the intersection of Harmony Hall Road and King James Way. Read more. Ride On to Hold Public Hearing on November 15 About Proposed Service Change to Route 52 The public is invited to provide comments at a public hearing, online or by mail to MCDOT’s Transit Services about a proposal to extend Ride On Route 52 for selected trips to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.  Read more. MCDOT to Hold Public Hearing About Possible Improvements for the MD 650/Powder Mill Road Intersection Public input is sought about proposals to improve the MD 650/Powder Mill Road Intersection within the White Oak area. Comments can be provided by email, mail or at the hearing, which will be held on Thursday, November 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the White Oak Community Recreation Center Social Hall, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Read more. Planning Board Approves MCDOT’s Plan for a Capital Crescent Trail Surface Route in Bethesda (from Bethesda Beat) A plan to create a route to connect the Capital Crescent Trail at Bethesda Row with Elm Street Park was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. In 2019, MCDOT will construct separated bike lanes along Bethesda Avenue and Willow Lane from the intersection of Woodmont and Bethesda avenues to Elm Street Local Park. The development will provide a permanent alternate route beneath Wisconsin Avenue. Read full article in Bethesda Beat. MCDOT’s Lu Wilson Speaks at Future Link Career Day About Opportunities in the Department MCDOT’s Administrative Specialist Lu Wilson helped make Future Link’s Career Day a success for about 40 participants. She explained that career paths are not always a straight line, and learning is something that happens continually throughout one’s life. She related her personal experiences and described the wide variety of opportunities available in MCDOT. Learn more onlineabout Future Link, which provides mentoring and resources to first-generation, high potential young adults. MCDOT Transit Services Holds Ride On Bus Roadeo Transit Services held a “roadeo” competition for Ride On bus operators. Ten individuals and two teams of three drivers each participated this year by demonstrating their driving skills on an obstacle course. The winner, Guillermo Vasquez, will go on to compete in the International Roadeo, which includes operators from the U.S. and Canada, that will be held in Louisville KY in May 2019. Pictured from left to right are: MCDOT Transit Services Division Chief Dan Hibbert; Chief of Operations Mike Nesselt; Winner, Ride On Bus Operator Guillermo Vasquez; and Ride On Depot Chief Andre Lucas NHTSA Campaign Urges Public to “Make It to the Table: Don’t Drink and Drive this Thanksgiving Eve” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is an evening associated with drinking and a big night for bars, so it is urging drivers to plan ahead for a sober ride home. NHTSA says the Thanksgiving holiday period is the deadliest holiday on roads. Read more. October 30, 2018 Tips For a Safe Halloween Trick-or-treaters will be coming out soon. Check out these safety tips to make sure you have a safe and fun Halloween. Read more. Update on Infrastructure Repairs MCDOT’s Highway Services is busily completing repair projects before winter temperatures halt work for the season, including: Wilson Lane, Bethesda, Concrete Repair & Replacement Merrimac Park, Bethesda, Subdivision Patching Project Dale Drive, Silver Spring, Concrete Repair & Replacement Fieldcrest Road Paving Project Club Hollow Road, Poolesville, Bridge Rehabilitation Springfield Subdivision, Bethesda, Permanent Patching/Resurfacing Project Memory Lane, Silver Spring, Drainage Project County Leaf Vacuuming Collection Begins Week of November 12 and Continues Through the End of December MCDOT’s Division of Highway Services will begin its annual collection of leaves in the vacuum collection district the week of November 12. MCDOT provides two collections on district streets during the fall. Read more. Capital Bikeshare Offers Free Rides on Election Day On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, Capital Bikeshare is providing free use of its shared bikes to encourage everyone to vote. See details. Uber and Lyft Also Providing Free Rides on Election DayGet a free ride on Uber or Lyfton Election Day, with some restrictions. Reminder: MCDOT Sponsors WABA City Cycling Classes With the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, MCDOT is co-sponsoring classes designed to help bike riders feel more confident about riding in urban settings. The next class will be held November 3. Read more. Update on the Wheaton Revitalization Project The underground garage is approaching street level, as Level P0 (the topmost garage level) is well underway and expected to be complete in early November. Pepco relocations are complete with the exception of pole removal, and installation of underground Verizon conduits along Grandview Avenue is proceeding. Follow live project progress by viewing the online camera. View weekly updates online.

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

Go Montgomery! October 5, 2018

MCDOT Receives $4.365 Million from U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration to Purchase 10 Electric Buses The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has received a $4.365 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to replace diesel buses with 10 new, electric buses that will have lower fuel costs and be more reliable with fewer breakdowns. In September 2017, MCDOT received an FTA grant for $1.75 million to purchase four electric buses and charging stations.  Read more. MCDOT Wins $300,000 Maryland Bikeways Program Grant MCDOT has won a $300,000 Maryland Bikeways Program grant to prepare a final design for a one-half mile, 10-foot-wide shared use path along Emory Lane and Muncaster Mill Road that will provide better connections with the proposed North Branch Trail and Rock Creek Regional Park. Read more. Students Invited to Become Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors MCDOT invites high school students to serve as Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors. Interested students may apply onlinethrough November 5. Selected Youth Ambassadors will have the opportunity to become road-safety leaders in their school and community through this school year. Read more.  Gold Mine Road Closed During Bridge Replacement Project MCDOT has begun a project to replace the Gold Mine Road Bridge, which is located near Chandlee Mill Road. The project requires closure of a portion of Gold Mine Road through summer 2019. Residents can access Gold Mine Road from Chandlee Mill Road to Brook Road. Read more. Public Meeting Planned about CCT Crossing at Little Falls Parkway, CCT Improvements and Separated Bike Lanes On Tuesday, October 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., MCDOT and Montgomery County Parks will present information about several Capital Crescent Trail projects and separated bike lanes for Downtown Bethesda. Read more. MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh Joined County Executive at Opening of Pepco Trail On October 5, County Executive Ike Leggett spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new six-mile, natural surface, multi-use trail that connects Muddy Branch Stream Valley to South Germantown Recreational Park. MCDOT helped to ensure the new trail meshes with the County’s overall trail and road networks and completed safety improvements. Read more. Greg Road to Close for About Three Weeks MCDOT will close Greg Road between Georgia Avenue and Riggs Road from October 5 to 29 to repair and paint the bridge over Hawlings River Tributary.  Follow detour signs. MCDOT’s Walk to School Day Focus School in Gaithersburg this Year Encourage students to be healthy and join the fun on International Walk to School Day, Wednesday, October 10 at 8:45 a.m.Schools throughout Montgomery County are participating and this year’s focus school is Gaithersburg Elementary School. 35 North Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg.  Ride On to Hold Public Forum on Proposed Changes to Route 75 MCDOT’s Transit Services invites the public to a forum on November 1 to provide input on proposed changes to Ride On Route 75, which include extending service to the Germantown MARC Station and additional service within the Clarksburg community.  The forum will be held at the UpCounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Conference Room A, Germantown and begin at 6:30 p.m. Read more. Pepco Work on Westbound River Road at Little Falls Parkway to Temporarily Close Left Turn Lane Pepco has begun electrical transmission work that will require an initial two-and-one-half month closure of the westbound left turn lane on River Road at Little Falls Parkway. MCDOT has established a detour along Ridgefield Road, Westbard Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. Read more. Sign Up for Updates on the Marriott International Headquarters Construction Project in Downtown Bethesda Regular updates are now available online or sign up to receive them by email.  Washington Area Conducting Survey as Part of Regional Bus Transformation Project Through November 16, the public is invited to provide input through a mobility survey on making local bus service a better transportation choice. The survey will assess the opinions, preferences and desires for bus service in the region among bus riders and non-riders alike. Read more.  October 5, 2018 Columbus Day, Monday, October 8 is Not a County Holiday All services will be provided according to their normal weekday schedules, including Ride On bus, the TRiPS Commuter Store and Mobile Commuter Store. Payment for parking will be required at public garages, lots and curbside meters. Update on Road and Concrete Repair Projects MCDOT is working hard to complete seasonal road paving, sidewalk and curb repair projects before the cold weather sets in. Upcoming projects include: Goshen Estates Phase I Patching Project Quince Haven Subdivision Concrete Repair and Replacement Attendees Pick Their Favorites at Parking Day 2018 The results are in. People who visited the Parking Day parks in Silver Spring and Bethesda voted for their favorites, and the winners are: Torti Gallas + Partners in Silver Spring and Creative Parties in Bethesda.Read more. BETHESDA WINNER  Creative Parties SILVER SPRING WINNER  Torti Gallas + Partners Update on Wheaton Revitalization Project The contractor has completed levels P4, P3 and P2 of the parking garage and has begun construction of Level P1. Removal of the overhead Pepco wires along the east side of Grandview Avenue is complete.  View on site construction activities. Read weekly progress newsletter. Construction of Elevator Slabs Continues

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