Go Montgomery! June 22, 2020

Montgomery County Begins Phase 2 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced the County has achieved its benchmark to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The County entered Phase 2 of reopening on June 19. Learn more. MCDOT Increases Ride On Bus Routes  To support the County’s reopening, Ride On launched "Essential Plus" service, which adds more operating bus routes and provides greater geographic coverage. Essential Plus expands the number of weekday, Saturday and Sunday routes and restores the Bethesda Circulator and Silver Spring Van Go (Route 28) bus services. All fares remain free for now and passengers will still be required to board through the rear door unless the ramp is needed. Read the press release and view the Essential Plus webpage montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Transit/essential-plan.html for more details.  MCDOT Announces New Shared Streets Program  In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, MCDOT is adjusting the use of some streets and parking facilities to best serve today’s needs. Shared Streets allow pedestrians, cyclists, and local vehicle traffic to share the street at slower vehicle speeds while practicing physical distancing. These temporary measures have been developed to provide expanded safe spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists. MCDOT has also closed some streets to cars to support outdoor dining. Learn more. montgomerycountymd.gov/dot/sharedstreets. MCDOT Offers New Bike Match Program As the County expands activities through phased re-openings, more people - including both essential and non-essential workers - are in need of safe, reliable, and inexpensive travel to work and other places throughout the County. That’s why BikeMatchMoCo was created. This new, FREE service, connects people with extra, unused bicycles to individuals who need them. BikeMatchMoCo facilitates a direct, person-to-person donation.  Have a bike or need a bike? Go online and complete the registration form. Know someone without internet access? Contact us to be mailed a paper form: 240-777-8380. Montgomery County’s New Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Guidelines Make It Easier for Residents to Charge at Home  A collaborative effort between MCDOT and Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has led to the release of the County’s first ever guidelines for installing EV charging stations at home. The guidelines regulate the installation of privately owned car charging stations in garages, driveways and the public right of way adjacent to County streets. Read more.  Metro to Reopen Some Stations and Realign Bus Service as Region Reopens Starting Sunday, June 28, Metro is reopening 15 rail stations that were closed due to low ridership during the coronavirus pandemic and Metrobus customers will notice more frequent buses, less crowding, and more regular service beginning Monday, June 29. Learn more. MDOT SHA Resurfacing Southbound I-270  The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration began a project on June 7 to mill, pave and restripe 4.6 miles between Falls Rd. and Democracy Blvd. Four of six southbound lanes will be closed from Sundays to Thursdays, between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. until late summer. Drivers should plan ahead for extra commute time and stay alert, focus on driving and, look for reduced speed limits, as well as other driving pattern changes. Drive like you work here and slow down in construction zones. Learn more. Bird Now Offers Free e-Scooter Rides in Montgomery County  Bird electric scooters is offering free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel in Montgomery County. To sign up, simply email a copy of your medical identification card along with your name and phone number to together@bird.co. Eligible riders will receive two, free, 30-minute rides per day for as long as it takes to help our communities recover from the global health crisis. Learn more at www.bird.co/blog/bird-providing-free-mobility-healthcare-workers-crisis.  MCDOT Negotiates Redevelopment of Public Parking Lots in Bethesda  MCDOT has published a Notice of Intent to begin negotiations for the redevelopment of the Leland Street and Farm Women's Market parking lots in Bethesda. The proposed mixed-use development will include residences, retail, an underground public parking garage, preservation of the Women’s Farm Market and a public park. Learn more.  Capital Crescent Garage Entrance Temporarily Closed  MCDOT is removing and replacing the trench drain system at the gates and entrances of the Capital Crescent Garage (Garage 31). The work was completed at the Bethesda Avenue gate and will now continue at the Woodmont entrance. Customers are asked to enter and exit the garage using Bethesda Avenue. The work is expected to be completed by the end of June.   Limited Quantities of Face Coverings Available for Ride On Passengers Who Cannot Provide Their Own During COVID-19 Health Crisis  MCDOT continues to provide limited supplies of face coverings on buses for passengers who cannot provide their own. In accordance with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s executive order, public transportation users must wear face coverings during the COVID-19 health crisis. Over 7,000 face coverings have been provided to riders in the first two months of the program. June 22, 2020 Commuter Connections Offers Commuting Tips and Resources As commuters return to work, Commuter Connections offers suggestions on keeping yourself safe during your commute, as well as information on what local transportation providers are doing to make shared commuting as safe as possible. The Commute with Confidence website provides recommendations and safety tips to help commuters navigate the new commuting landscape.Visit commuterconnections.org /covid19-commuting. Curious About Plans to Reinstate Transit Service Across the Washington Region?  Washington Post just put on a comprehensive store on local traffic status. Read now. June is National Safety Month   National Safety Month focuses on saving lives and preventing injuries – and driving safely is an important way to prevent collisions. Did you know that more than 90 percent of crashes are caused by human error? This includes:  Missing road hazards or detecting them too slowly.  Choosing incorrect defensive driving actions.  Driving in a distracted or altered state, such as having inadequate sleep, being distracted by a phone or dashboard touchscreen, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Addressing what causes crashes, as well as the role vehicles, drivers, road systems and technology play in creating safer roads is the way forward to zero fatalities. View this infographic for statistics and learn more at www.nsc.org/work-safety/get-involved/national-safety-month.  WABA Offers Online Bike Classes for Kids WABA's online youth bike class covers everything you and the young people in your life need to know to have a blast on a bike. It will teach your child the basics of bicycling, including helmet fit, safety, and where and how to ride their bicycle. Learn more at waba.org/blog/2020/05/bike-club. Enjoy Car-Free Streets on the Weekend   To provide more room on local streets for pedestrians and cyclists during the COVID-19 health crisis, the portion of Arlington Road, between Bradley Boulevard and Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda, is closed to vehicles on weekends. This expands upon Montgomery Parks’ ongoing weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway, sections of Beach Drive and Sligo Creek Parkway. Closures start on Fridays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays for recreation and exercise. Learn more at montgomeryparks.org/covid-19 For a contactless parking payment option in the County, download the Parkmobile app at ow.ly/u2Wk30qI8TO. montgomerycountymd.gov/ DOT/covid-19.html

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