Go Montgomery! Newsletter April 30, 2020

Message From MCDOT Director Chris Conklin Concerning the COVID-19-Related Death of MCDOT Employee Michael Miller:  Our MCDOT family is profoundly saddened by the death from COVID-19 of our Transit Services Division employee Michael Miller. He was a committed member of the Ride On family who, since 2011, worked hard every day to make sure buses left the depot in good condition and on time to serve the residents of Montgomery County. Mr. Miller is survived by his wife Donna and their children, and MCDOT extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones.   Mr. Miller was particularly appreciated for his infectious smile and caring personality, his dedication to his fellow co-workers and his job duties, as well as his willingness to go above and beyond at any moment to get the job done. He truly will be missed. Mr. Miller made our Silver Spring/Bethesda Depot a better place to work, and the MCDOT team is mourning the loss of a great friend and colleague.     To honor Mr. Miller's Memory, Ride On staff will be wearing black armbands.  In this time of uncertainty, I also want to thank all of our MCDOT employees for their dedication and commitment to serving the public and ensuring that we continue to provide essential services. You are our everyday heroes – ordinary people doing their jobs to ensure that the public’s health, safety and basic needs are being met. We appreciate all that you do – and we mourn the loss of one of our own who served our County so well. Please Bring a Face Covering for Essential Travel on Ride On MCDOT strongly encourages Ride On passengers to come prepared with a personal face covering—which may include a cloth mask, bandana, or scarf—and use it to cover your mouth and nose before boarding the bus. Buses will have a limited supply of face coverings on board for passengers who cannot provide their own. Bus service is being provided for essential travel only, and passenger numbers on each bus will be limited to allow for safe social distancing. Learn more. Starting Saturday, May 2, Bus Stop Locations Return to Inside the Silver Spring Transit Center On May 2, Ride On and Metrobus bus stops will return to their original locations inside the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in downtown Silver Spring. The bus stops were temporarily moved during construction of the Purple Line and Capital Crescent Trail. Learn more.   MCDOT Initiates New Program Using Taxis to Provide Contactless Delivery Services MCDOT has partnered with local taxi companies on a new program for Call-n-Ride participants allowing them to use their transportation credits to pay participating taxicab companies for delivery of essential goods from grocery stores, food banks and restaurants during the COVID-19 health crisis. Taxis are also available for delivery needs for the general public using standard meter rates. Learn more. Bikeshare and Lyft E-Scooters Free For Essential Workers   The Capital Bikeshare and Lyft Electric Scooters have extended their essential worker program to at least May 31. The programs give essential employers and workers, including those in the healthcare, food service, and food retailer industries, free, unlimited, 30-day Bikeshare and Lyft e-scooter memberships allowing access to unlimited, 30-minute bike trips and e-scooter trips. Contact herobikes@Lyft.com. Learn more. MCDOT Holds Successful Virtual Public Hearing  MCDOT is finding creative ways to move important infrastructure projects forward while still meeting requirements for public input and social distancing. Staff held a virtual public hearing concerning proposed sidewalk construction in the Kemp Mill Estates community in Silver Spring that was highly successful and will serve as a model for additional public engagement opportunities. Learn more.  MCDOT Wins Grant to Improve Safety for Visually Impaired   MCDOT has won a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Transportation Planning Board to enhance safety for blind and low vision pedestrians who travel to and from transit in the County's urban areas. The study recommendations will support the County’s commitment to Vision Zero and the importance of protecting all pedestrians. Learn more.  Public Can Provide Input on Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail Parking Reduction Until May 1   County residents are urged to provide input on a joint development proposal at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail Station that may reduce available customer parking by almost 200 spaces. Written comments can still be submitted through May 1 at 5 p.m. More details about the project and the public hearing presentation can be found here.  Transportation Resources for Adults Over 50 and Persons With Disabilities MCDOT has partnered with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services to compile information about transportation resources for adults over 50 and persons with disabilities the current health crisis for people who are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The County is working to develop guidelines for transportation resources for individuals who must travel to receive testing or medical care. Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Transit/seniors.html. Purple Line Update The first complete Purple Line Light Rail Vehicle is 60% through testing in Elmira, NY and will head to the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility for local testing in late 2020.  Long-Term Closure Planned for Bonifant Street in Silver Spring  Closure begins May 11 along Bonifant Street (West) and will continue through the end of Purple Line construction. Pedestrians are urged to obey signage and stay clear of the work zone during this time. The detour can be viewed at plmdnews.com/hie.  Maryland's Roadmap to Recovery The “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery” has been developed based on the recovery plans issued by the federal government, the National Governors Association, and premier institutions like Johns Hopkins and the American Enterprise Institute; shaped by the expert advice of the scientists and public health officials on Maryland’s Coronavirus Response Team; and tailored to our situation here in Maryland. The result is a responsible, gradual, safe path forward for our state.  Hogan Announces Plan to Reopen Maryland's Economy  At a press conference, Governor Larry Hogan said the state's economy could begin to reopen early next month when the number of daily COVID-19 cases stops increasing and there is a fall in the number of patients hospitalized and admitted to intensive care units. The reopening will happen in three stages: Stage 1.  Lifting the stay-at-home order; reopening of some small businesses, retail shops, golf courses, other recreational activities and some local governments; and resumption of outdoor religious gatherings. Elective outpatient surgeries in certain counties might be able to resume. Stage 2.  Reopening of more businesses; nonessential workers could return to work; some restaurants and bars could reopen on a case-by-case basis; crowd size limits on social gatherings could increase; and indoor religious gatherings could resume. Stage 3.  Larger social gatherings and reopening of entertainment venues allowed and the lifting of restrictions at hospitals and nursing homes. Follow MCDOT on all social media at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot/social-media.html Get Transportation updates during COVID-19 at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT/covid19.html Get the latest updates in Montgomery County on COVID-19 at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19 April 30, 2020 Subscribe to receive MCDOT NEWS releases. Join Us for Virtual Safety Week MAY 4 - 8  MCDOT’s “Safe Routes to School” program and Montgomery County Public Schools will host a Virtual Safety Week May 4-8 for elementary and middle school students and their families. The weeklong event will offer activities and learning opportunities that can be done at home to learn about safe travel habits that align with the County’s Vision Zero Initiative to reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways. Participating kids will have the opportunity to earn prizes. Learn more at montgomerycountymd.gov/ safetyweek Work With Us! MCDOT is Hiring Go to MCG Careers to learn more about: Traffic and Engineering Operations Senior Engineering Public Service Worker Engineer Technician II/I Transportation Systems Technician I/II/III Parking Management Public Service Craftsworker I Transportation Contract Compliance Inspector II Face Covering Requirements Expanded To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Governor Hogan has required face coverings to be worn at all food establishments; on public transportation, including buses, ride-sharing, and taxi services; at all retail establishments (including MCDOT’s Silver Spring TRiPS Store) and at laundromats. Learn more. MCDOT Teleworking Webinars Now Available Online Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, many employers had to quickly implement telework programs – with little or no preparation. To assist them and their employees, MCDOT hosted two webinars featuring telework experts offering advice and answering questions. View webinars now. MCDOT Celebrates Earth Month   Earth Month celebrations have  been limited by COVID-19 disruptions, but we can still enjoy the outdoors and do our part while social distancing. Become a MCDOT Adopt A Road volunteer who pledges to keep roadsides litter free by removing pollutants before they clog storm drains or reach local streams that flow into the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and our water supply.  Parkway Road Closures for Weekend Recreation Montgomery Parks is expanding its initiative to provide more space to walk, jog and bike during COVID-19's social distancing requirements. Parts of Beach Drive, Little Falls Parkway, and Sligo Creek Parkway are closed to vehicles every weekend from Friday at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 6 p.m. Learn more. Have questions or need assistance within Montgomery County? Call 311 or visit:  montgomerycountymd.gov/311

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

Go Montgomery! April 3, 2020

Please note our new website that is constantly updated with the latest transportation information during the COVID-19 health crisis: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT/covid19.html Governor Issues Stay at Home Order  Earlier this week, Governor Larry Hogan issued a Stay at Home order to protect public health and safety. The order states that no Maryland resident should leave their home unless it is for an essential job or for an essential reason, such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes. Read more.  County Executive Elrich Holds Virtual Community Briefing to Answer Your Questions About COVID-19 Montgomery County’s top leaders answered questions Thursday night from residents, business owners and first responders at the County’s first COVID-19 Virtual Community Briefing.  The live event featured County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles and Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Dr. Earl Stoddard who answered questions ranging from testing to distance learning and help for small businesses. Watch Briefing COVID-19 Information   The COVID-19 Outbreak is a constantly evolving situation, and Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Maryland Department of Health, will provide updates as they become available at montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19.  Using Ride On During the Covid-19 Health Crisis Ride On Continues to Operate Essential Bus Service   Under Governor Hogan’s stay at home order, residents are advised to travel only for essential purposes. Ride On continues to operate 35 critical routes routes seven days a week for essential trips, and all service is free. See detailed service information: Essential Service Plan and Map of Routes and Locations of Essential Services. Map Shows How Operating Bus Routes Align with Essential Services  Need to take Ride On to an essential service, including healthcare facilities, dialysis providers, pharmacies near hospitals, grocery stores near hospitals, banks near hospitals, Montgomery County Public Schools food distribution sites and operating Metro Stations? Use this online map to see how operating bus routes align with these destinations:  essential services map. Where's My Bus?  With regular Ride On service schedules disrupted, note that Ride On Real Time Information only shows bus location. This allows passengers to see when a bus is approaching a bus stop, but does not provide the estimated time of arrival. View the map at rideon.app/busmap. Please note that trip planning apps such as Google Maps, do not reflect current schedule information. Keeping Riders Safe  All Ride On bus interiors are cleaned nightly with hospital grade disinfectant. Bus filters and ventilation systems are also treated each night with a disinfectant.  Ride On Providing Free Rides  Buses have implemented rear door boarding and are not charging any fare to ride any Ride On bus. Unless you need ramp assistance, board through the rear door. Update on County Street, Garage and Lot Parking MCDOT Establishes “Curbside Food Pickup” Zones for Restaurants   MCDOT continues to expand temporary curbside food pick up zones in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Bethesda and  North Bethesda The zones prevent long-term parking in spots in front of carry-out restaurants and essential services while allowing temporary “standing parking” of 15 minutes or less. Find out which local restaurants are open at MoCo EATS To-Go Guide and help support our local businesses if you can. MCDOT Relaxes Some Parking Restrictions  * Parking meter enforcement has been relaxed in areas where businesses remain open for quick pickups— such as restaurants, pharmacies and food stores.  * FREE PARKING is available at the Bonifant/Dixon Garage 55 in Silver Spring and the Auburn/Del Ray Garage 36 in Bethesda.  * Parking enforcement in Residential Parking Permit areas has been suspended.  MCDOT Offering PCS Permit Refunds  While Maryland's stay-at-home order is in effect, MCDOT parking customers with PCS (Parking Convenience Stickers) permits may request refunds in-person at the Parking Store in Bethesda or Silver Spring, by phone or by mail. Learn more.  Status of Commuter Services Mobile Commuter Services Store is Closed For Now  As the County continues its efforts to keep the community safe, MCDOT’s Mobile Commuter Store operations have been temporarily suspended.  Silver Spring TRiPS Commuter Store Has New Hours   The TRIPS Commuter Store is open Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The store is located on the 2nd level of the Silver Spring Transit Center, 8404 Colesville Road. Essential workers can get transit and trip planning assistance and information. Other Ways to Get Around Metrorail and Metrobus Still Providing Some Service for Essential Travel Only  Metrorail: Many stations are closed. Beginning April 6, service will end at 9 p.m.  View the live train map and special COVID-19 rail system map.  Metrobus: Metro releases schedule information every week. Beginning April 6, service will end at 11 p.m. Passengers should board through the rear-door, except for customers requesting the use of the ramp. Fare collection is temporarily suspended.   Stay updated on Metro services and alerts at www.wmata.com/service/status/#main-content.   County's Bike Map Available Online  Montgomery County offers nearly 100 miles of bike lanes, bike-friendly shoulders, and separated bike lanes (cycle tracks) countywide. Learn more and visit the interactive map online at bikemap.montgomerycountymd.gov.   *Follow Us on Social Media: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot/social-media.html *COVID-19 County Information: montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/RightNav/Coronavirus.html *COVID-19 Closures and Service Updates: montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19-closures. April 3, 2020 Follow MCDOT on Twitter at twitter.com/MCDOTNow, subscribe to MCDOT NEWS releases and/or visit montgomerycountymd.gov.dot. FOLLOW RIDE ON  @RideOnMCT on Twitter, Ride On MCT on Facebook, or visit RideOnBus.com . FREE Trips for Essential Workers on Capital Bikeshare and Lyft E-Scooters Essential workers can enroll for a free 30-day Capital Bikeshare membership or a free 30-day combined membership that includes Capital Bikeshare and Lyft electric scooters. Bikeshare single trip fee reduced from $2 to $1. Learn more.  MCDOT Invites Employers to Teleworking Webinar April 7 From 3 to 4 p.m. Many employers have had to implement telework programs in the past few weeks with little to no preparation. Attend this free webinar to ask questions and hear telework experts discuss: best practices for quick-starting and ramping up a telework program, tips for management controls and productivity, low-cost technical solutions and more. Email your questions in advance by noon on April 6. Register now. MCDOT Postpones April 6 Public Hearing About Proposed Abandonment of a Portion of Kensington Boulevard in Wheaton In light of the COVID-19 health crisis and out of an abundance of caution, the public forum will be rescheduled. Learn more. Resources and Volunteer Opportunities Volunteering and Being a Good Neighbor During COVID-19:  English | Español Volunteers Needed  Looking for ways to help? The Montgomery County Volunteer Center lists opportunities for individuals and organizations to provide services during this critical time, including the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps. Learn more.   Montgomery County Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donations Needed During these challenging times, one of the most critical needs is for personal protective equipment (PPE) for our healthcare workers on the front lines. Donate gloves, N95 masks, disposable gowns, face shields and hand made masks. Montgomery County Food Council Provides Information for Those in Need  Get information about food assistance resources, and opportunities for individuals and organizations to support community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.  COVID-19: Recursos y sistemas locales de alimentos y comida  Greater DC Diaper Bank Supports Community  This resource supports the health and well-being of families with diapers, formula, period products and other essentials. Donations are needed. Get help or provide support.   Have questions or need assistance within Montgomery County? Call 311 or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/311 Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.