Go Montgomery! September 13, 2019

MCDOT Briefs Residents at Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Meetings This fall, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and team are hitting the road to talk with County residents about all things transportation. Learn more. MCDOT Celebrates New Wheaton Library with 84th Bikeshare Station, Flex Shuttle and Outreach MCDOT shared in the community excitement over the grand opening of the new Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center on Sunday with the installation of a new 15-dock Capital Bikeshare station, while participants riding the Flex shuttle from a nearby garage learned about this new on-demand transit option. Learn more. Ride On Participates in the Pack the Packs School Supply Drive On August 29, Ride On transported backpacks filled with donated supplies from the Pack the Packs School Supply Drive to over 300 under privileged students at the Daly Elementary School in Germantown. Ride On answered questions from parents and gave kids a chance to tour a new Ride On bus. Ride On Announces Schedule Changes Effective September 15 Ride On will implement several changes to bus routes beginning Sunday including Routes 26, 38 and 59 among others. Learn more. MCDOT Thanks Students Who Attended Back to School Fair Our thanks to the hundreds of students who stopped by our table at the MCPS Back-to-School Fair on August 24 to learn about the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip card and the Kids Ride FREE program. Get your card by September 30 to ride free!  Visit any County library, the Silver Spring TRiPS store, Mobile Commuter store, participating schools or online.  Bethesda Parking Facilities Get Convenient New Payment System Starting next week, say hello to new payment options at several Bethesda parking facilities. Learn more. MCDOT Schedules Semi-Annual Fall Cleaning of County Parking Garages The Division of Parking Management will soon begin its semi-annual interior washdown of all 21 County-owned parking garages in Silver Spring, Bethesda and Wheaton. The washings will occur on nights and weekends in September and October.  MCDOT to Hold Public Hearing for Proposed Lyttonsville Sidewalk Construction Next Month MCDOT invites the public to attend a public hearing on October 2 at 7 p.m. to provide comments concerning construction of a sidewalk that provides disabled citizens, pedestrians and bicyclists safer travel to schools and nearby public attractions or facilities in the Lyttonsville community. Learn more. Ride On to Hold Annual Bus Roadeo Saturday, September 14 Ride On bus system will hold its annual bus “Roadeo” where bus operators compete to demonstrate their driving skills. The winner of the competition will go on to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Bus Roadeo held next May in San Antonio. Last year’s Ride On winner, Guillermo Vasquez, placed 55 out of 200 participants in the International competition. Learn more. MCDOT Celebrates PARK(ing) Day September 20  Take time to check out the fun “parks” that will be set up in honor of PARK(ing) Day in Silver Spring and Bethesda!  Celebrate this International holiday that encourages artists, planners, businesses, organizations, groups and individuals to participate by temporarily transforming a metered parking space into a fun, park-like spot. See what other cities have done. School is in Session: Maryland Law Requires Vehicles to Stop for School Buses As the new school year begins, be aware that Maryland Law requires drivers to stop, and remain stopped, for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an activated stop arm. Learn more about school bus safety and share the Understanding the School Bus Law information flyer with friends and family. Temporary Traffic Changes on Rockville Pike September 16-20 The MD 355 Crossing (BRAC) project is located in Bethesda, Maryland, a densely populated and developed area inside the Capital Beltway (I-495), and adjacent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The focus of the project is on the intersection of MD 355/ Rockville Pike and South Wood Road/South Drive. Expect the following closures/changes. md355crossing.com Bethesda & Medical Center Metro Station Closures this Weekend These Metro stations will close Saturday and Sunday for leak repairs in the tunnel. Red Line trains will run between Shady Grove & Grosvenor and Friendship Heights & Glenmont, according to WMATA. Free shuttle buses will replace trains at Grosvenor, Medical Center, Bethesda and Friendship Heights. Learn more. Purple Line Work in Silver Spring During September Expect temporary lane and sidewalk closures during weekdays and weekends on Wayne Avenue and on Bonifant Street while crews relocate utilities. The right-hand southbound lane of Colesville Road is also closed between Second Avenue and East-West Highway. Learn more. Volunteers Sought for Climate Planning Process Workgroups Montgomery County has launched a planning process to develop prioritized actions and strategies to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals of 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035.  Volunteers are needed for two workgroups that will focus on community engagement/education and climate adaptation/sequestration. Learn more. September 13, 2019 Celebrate Car Free Day with MCDOT September 20 On Friday, September 20, visit MCDOT’s tables at Takoma Park, Wheaton and Glenmont Metro stations and at Lakeforest Mall Transit Center for free giveaways, and take the pledge to go car free for a chance to win prizes. This worldwide event encourages greener methods of travel to get around other than driving alone by car. carfreemetrodc.org. September is National Preparedness Month Take advantage of local preparedness classes, sign up for Alert Montgomery and learn the four steps you should take for emergency preparedness. Learn more. MCDOT Sponsors Adult Learn to Ride Class on October 5 MCDOT and WABA have teamed up to offer an adult class for all skills on October 5 in Chevy Chase. Register Today! Ride On to Attend Run for EveryMind 5K September 15 Look for Ride On staff Sunday at the Run for EveryMind 5k run/3k walk at Rockville Town Square. Run or walk to support mental wellness—and stop by our table to learn about the Kids Ride Free program!  Ride Smart Travel Training Workshop for Seniors September 18 Register for a FREE one-day workshop to learn how to travel to destinations of your choice using public transit in Gaithersburg. To register, contact Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252 or email connectaride@accessjca.org. Bethesda Circulator is a Free and Easy Way to Get Around in Downtown Bethesda The free Bethesda Circulator bus makes a loop around downtown Bethesda, stopping next to the Bethesda Metro station, County parking lots and garages and more. There’s even a bike rack on the bus. See the route schedule.  Reedie Drive to Close for Wheaton Revitalization Work For twelve weeks, Reedie Drive will temporarily become one-way westbound traffic, between Georgia Avenue and Grandview Avenue, on or about September 28 for storm drain line installation. The glass installation of the Wheaton Office Building lobby is almost complete. This project is 72 percent complete and scheduled to open by May 31, 2020. Learn more at wheatonproject.com.

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