Read MCDOT's Latest Go Montgomery! Newsletter - March 26, 2021

 

Ride On Buses to Resume Front Door Boarding, Fare Payments, Monday, April 5 MCDOT will resume front door boarding and fare collection on all Ride On, Ride On extRa and Flash buses starting on Monday, April 5. Rear doors have been used for boarding since March of last year in response to the COVID-19 crisis, but will no longer be used for boarding on any services except for Flash.  For the health safety of riders and bus operators, clear protective partitions have been installed to provide separation between riders,  people entering the front door and bus operators. In addition to allowing front door access, partitions make it possible to reopen seating areas in the front of buses and allow for more passengers to ride in a distanced manner. Ride On to Accept Virtual SmarTrip Card Using Apple Wallet When Ride On resumes collecting fares on April 5, a new, faster and contactless way to pay will be available for those with an iPhone or Apple Watch. Customers will be able to add the SmarTrip card to Apple Wallet. To get started, download the SmarTrip app from the App Store. Payment support for Google Wallet on Android devices is in development by Metro.  Learn more about this and the fare collection.  MCDOT Kickoffs Vision Zero Youth Ambassador Program MCDOT hosted its virtual kickoff for the Vision Zero Youth Ambassador Program, welcoming a record 30 students who will help the County achieve its Vision Zero goals as road safety leaders in their communities. The County’s Vision Zero initiative aims to eliminate traffic-related severe injuries and deaths. Learn more about the Youth Ambassadors. Executive Boulevard at Old Georgetown Road Intersection Closed to Traffic for Five Months MCDOT has temporarily closed the intersection at Executive Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road. The closure is part of the White Flint Project, which is a combination of new and reconstructed highways, arterial roads and intersections to create a more walkable, bikeable and transit friendly area. Read the newsletter for more information and view the detour maps here. Learn more about the White Flint Project. MCDOT to Begin Electric Mowing Equipment Pilot  Program This Mowing Season  MCDOT has developed a pilot program which will use electric mowing equipment and be implemented during the upcoming mowing season, which typically runs from late April to early October. MCDOT is responsible for mowing roughly 4,700 acres of County owned right-of-way.   Currently, mowing crews use either gas or diesel powered equipment. The pilot program will outfit one crew with all electrically powered/charged equipment including mowers, weedwackers, clippers, trimmers, and blowers. The goal of this pilot program is to reduce the County's fuel costs,  carbon footprint, and noise pollution.  MCDOT Held Virtual Public Meeting on Great Seneca Transit Network On March 16, MCDOT and the Montgomery County Planning Department provided planning, transportation and development updates for the Great Seneca Science Corridor area. MCDOT presented its proposal for a new bus network that will make it easier to get to jobs, healthcare, schools and other key destinations in Gaithersburg, Rockville and Shady Grove. Learn more and view the entire meeting online. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Presented His Recommended Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget on March 15 County Executive Marc Elrich announced his priorities for the recommended Fiscal Year 2022 County Operating Budget, which included expansion of Bus Rapid Transit and to fund programs that tackle climate change. Learn more and view highlights of the recommended budget online at montgomerycountymd.gov/operatingbudget. WMATA Expands Metrobus Service WMATA (Metro) expanded its bus service to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with changes to 59 Metrobus routes serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The expanded routes are expected to improve service, enhance reliability and help alleviate crowding so riders can feel safe and maintain social distance. Learn more.  April is Distracted Driving Month According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. While drivers texting behind the wheel tops what seems like an endless list of distractions, other risky actions include talking — whether it be on the phone or to others in the car, setting your navigation, adjusting what you’re listening to, drinking coffee, applying makeup, and more. By driving distracted, you lose valuable seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash. Learn more. Construction Projects to Disrupt Traffic on Sangamore Road and Massachusetts Avenue Through April Two projects in Bethesda will impact traffic during the next few weeks. Washington Gas will replace a natural gas pipeline and will close lanes on Sangamore Road from Massachusetts Avenue toward Walhonding Road, between 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for 30 days. Learn more. PARKING NEWS MCDOT Modernizes Waverly Garage Payment System Last month, MCDOT removed the single-space meters in the Waverly Garage (Garage 47) in Bethesda and replaced them with centralized, pay-by-space pay stations. The new system accepts credit cards and mobile payments. The hours of operation, rates, parking durations and PCS (Parking Convenience Sticker) status will remain the same. Click here for more information. Portion of Wheaton Market Place Garage Temporarily Closed for Repairs Level 4 in the Wheaton Market Place Garage is temporarily closed for about three months to facilitate waterproofing and concrete repair work. For more parking news visit montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-parking/news/index.html How to Use and Park E-Scooters/E-Bikes Safely Electric (E) scooters/bikes are a convenient and environmentally friendly way to get around the County’s urban areas. Stay safe, and protect others by following these simple rules: In Montgomery County, e-scooters/e-bikes are prohibited from sidewalks or streets where the speed limit is 50 mph or higher. Park e-scooters/e-bikes in public areas where they won't interfere with traffic operations; block driveway access, crosswalks, ADA ramps, pedestrian access, bus stops or fire hydrants; or impede access to private property or businesses. For suitable ways to park an e-scooter/e-bike, watch this video . Stay safe when riding an e-scooter/e-bike by following these guidelines: Wear a helmet, check the e-scooter/e-bike for damage, always test the brakes, see and be seen, beware of obstacles, don’t listen to music or perform stunts while riding and follow all manufacturer directions. Watch a video on e-scooter/e-bike safety. Possible Name Change for White Flint Metro Station County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmember Andrew Friedson, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of White Flint are holding an online meeting March 31 at 7 p.m. to discuss a potential name change of the White Flint metro station. Register for the meeting at bit.ly/MetroNameChang. Drivers Struggling to Get Through to E-ZPass Customer Service Center After Receiving Toll Violations From Last Year In a recent WMAR article,  the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) switched to cashless tolling last March and temporarily paused billing between March and October of 2020 to provide financial relief.  Customers are receiving bills for violations, some dating back to last Spring, as well as civil penalties for overdue violations. For those drivers having issues getting through to customer service, they can make an appointment to visit a customer service center.  Also, motorists are encouraged to get an E-ZPass to avoid video tolls and to pay reduced rates. For more information visit ezpassmd.com. I-270 Monorail is “Viable” But Will Not Reduce Traffic According to State of Maryland A study by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) found that a monorail line between Frederick and the Shady Grove Metro station is a “viable” option. (Katherine Shaver / Post) The Washington Commute Could Return by Fall for Many Workers The Washington commute could return by fall for many workers. It won’t be the same as before. The transition to widespread in-person office work will probably be gradual, with telecommuting an option for many. (Luz Lazo / Washington Post) For department updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, SIGN UP to receive MCDOT news releases and SIGN UP to receive the Go Montgomery!’ newsletter to your inbox or phone. March 26, 2021 See what MCDOT has planned in April MCDOT Director Chris Conklin Discusses Transit Equity and Worker Safety at Sierra Club Virtual Meeting Conklin was a panelist at the Montgomery County chapter of the Sierra Club virtual meeting on March 3. The Director discussed three of MCDOT’s top priorities – reach the Vision Zero goal of no traffic-related fatalities, implement the County’s transportation climate action plan and support the County’s economic growth and development goals. Learn more about Conklin’s remarks. View the entire meeting online. MCDOT's Safe Routes to School Newsletter Now Available Sign up to receive the new quarterly Safe Routes to School newsletter.  Learn about upcoming events, safety tips, engineering updates, and ways to get involved in the program. Rockville Bike Hub Donates Bikes to MCDOT’s Bike Match Program Rockville Bike Hub, a non-profit that refurbishes donated bicycles, has made a generous contribution of bikes to MCDOT’s Bike Match Program. which connects people who have a bike to donate with people who need one. We have a waiting list of over 200 people that need bikes, so if you have a bike to donate, visit the Bike Match website. MCDOT’s Mobile Commuter Store Continues Operations MCDOT’s Mobile Commuter Store is a one-stop shop for paying for transit, including SmarTrip cards, MARC tickets and Ride On passes. It also offers other services, including one-on-one assistance, transportation information, schedules and maps. The store’s weekly schedule is available online. Did You Know that MCDOT Installs Bike Racks? Residents can request to have a bike rack installed anywhere in Montgomery County. Each U-type bike rack can accommodate two bicycles and the racks are installed on a first-come, first-served basis. To view bike rack locations, look up bike routes and learn about MCDOT's pedestrian or bike projects, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/ dot/bike.html. Check Out MCDOT's Commuter Services Better Ways to Work Newsletter View the monthly Better Ways to Work newsletter online or sign up to receive it right in your inbox. The newsletter includes information about better ways to work, teleworking webinars, the Capital Bikeshare Corporate program, Transportation Demand Management Annual Reports and more.  Montgomery Parks Car-Free Streets Reopen This Weekend Montgomery Parks reopened sections of Little Falls Parkway, Beach Drive and Sligo Creek Parkway to pedestrians and bicyclists today. Learn more at mocoparks.org/2OYJkMl. MCDOT Sponsors Adult Learn to Ride Classes MCDOT and WABA have partnered to offer three classes  for those adults who have never ridden a bike before or have not been on a bike in some time. Spring classes are fully enrolled, but MCDOT plans to sponsor additional classes in the fall. Visit WABA’s website at waba.org/classes for other classes throughout the DC Metropolitan area and follow @MoCoCommuter on Twitter and Instagram to learn about future opportunities. MCDOT Honors Ride On Staff for Outstanding Job MCDOT’s Transit Services Division Chief Dan Hibbert thanked Ride On Central Communications staff for their tireless work throughout the pandemic to make sure that bus operators, coordinators and the public are able to travel safely in rain, snow or shine. He said that these dedicated employees have played a key role in maintaining transit services in the community. The Bike Boom is Real, Says New Mode Share Data Since 2007, the share of people in the Washington region who ride bikes has gone up, while driving and riding transit have dropped, according to a gigantic once-per-decade report from Greater Greater Washington. To report down trees, sidewalk or curb damage, streetlight or signal outage, traffic or pedestrian signal timing issues, missing or damaged street or traffic signs, pot holes or give feedback on FLASH or Ride On bus service call 3-1-1 (240-777-0311) or report it online at montgomerycountymd.gov /311.

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