 MCDOT to Increase Ride On Bus Service Effective, Sunday, March 13MCDOT will increase Ride On bus service beginning Sunday, March 13. The new schedule changes will return bus service to 86% of pre-COVID levels. This is a 6% increase from the temporary January reduction due to the number of employees who were sick from or exposed to COVID-19 during the recent surge. Routes that will resume service or increase frequency include: - Ride On Flex, the on-demand service in Wheaton/Glenmont and Rockville will resume service.
- Ride On extRa, the limited-stop service along MD 355 between Lakeforest Transit Center and Medical Center will resume service.
- Flash, the bus rapid transit bus line servicing US 29 will resume full weekday service and will continue to service the Food and Drug Administration campus in White Oak.
- Ride On buses will see an increase in service on routes 9, 14, 20, 30, 43, 56, 61, 63, and 100.
Trip planning and real-time bus arrival information are available at rideon.app/directions. |
 Construction of the complex project took about five years and includes a shallow pedestrian underpass below MD 355 that provides pedestrians and cyclists a safe means of crossing the busy roadway, new 120-foot-deep high-speed elevators, and emergency stairs creating direct access between the station and the east side of MD 355, and a new elevator and staircase between the existing Metrorail platform and mezzanine level. The project involved deep excavation that was done by drilling and blasting through rock. In addition, roadway surface improvements such as a traffic signal, pavement resurfacing, sidewalk/bike path, median work, and stormwater management facilities were completed. The shallow underpass under MD355/Rockville Pike was named to honor Alperson, a Silver Spring native who was a leader in the effort and died on May 14, 2020. Alperson served on the staff of then-Congressman Van Hollen and worked for the Montgomery County Government as the Military Installations / BRAC Coordinator. Learn more here.  Council Approved Bus Operator Salary Increase On March 1, the County Council voted to approve a new bus operator and transit coordinator salary increase. The salary adjustments make the positions compatible with other local transit providers. Learn more here. |
 North Bethesda “Flash” Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Advisory Committee Meets Wednesday, March 9The first North Bethesda Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting will be on Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. CAC’s provide feedback on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, also known as Flash) planning studies and local ridership preferences and make recommendations. Participation in the CACs by residents, business owners, and interested citizens ensures the project is being vetted and supported by members of the public. Online registration is required to attend. A recording of the meeting as well as any presentation materials will be available after the meeting on the project website here. |
 Montgomery County High School Students Can Become ‘Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors’ and Help Make Roadways Safer; Deadline to Apply is Monday, March 21MCDOT is seeking 30 Montgomery County high school students to submit applications to serve as ‘Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors.’ The project-based learning program teaches teens leadership skills, outreach and engagement techniques to address traffic safety needs in their community. Youth Ambassadors are tasked to complete a group project that encompasses engineering, education, or enforcement topics. Resources and project guidance are provided by the County to execute projects that will ultimately improve the safety of County residents. Students can earn 21 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for participation. Interested public, private and home-schooled high schoolers can learn about the program and apply here. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 21. |
 Montrose Parkway Renamed Josiah Henson ParkwayThe Montgomery County Planning Board has passed a resolution to rename Montrose Parkway in honor of renowned local abolitionist the Rev. Josiah Henson. Henson led 118 people to freedom as a conductor of the Underground Railroad. The Parkway runs through the former plantation property of Isaac Riley, where Henson was enslaved. The former plantation extends to Old Georgetown Road where the Josiah Henson Museum and Park are located. The renaming ceremony, held by the Friends of White Flint, will take place Friday, March 4 at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Montrose Parkway and Stonehenge Place in Rockville. MCDOT will be replacing the sign. |
 MCDOT Extends Parking Permits to Additional GaragesMCDOT's Parking Convenience Sticker (PCS) monthly permits will now be honored at the Metropolitan Garage 49 in Bethesda and Carpool permits will be honored at the Wheaton Market Garage 13 and Amherst Garage 45. MCDOT offers several PCS permits to maximize the value and availability of parking within the Parking Lot Districts. Learn more here. |
 MCDOT Will Hold a Virtual Public Meeting to Discuss the Tuckerman Lane Sidewalk and Bikeway Project in Potomac on Thursday, March 10The virtual public meeting will be held on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The project provides for a facility planning study of pedestrian and bicycle facilities for an approximate 3.8-mile section of Tuckerman Lane between Falls Road (MD 189) and Old Georgetown Road (MD 187). The proposed sidewalk will enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities as they travel to nearby destinations, such as local schools, a shopping center and places of worship. Public input is encouraged and may influence the future design of the proposed improvements. Online registration is required. Learn more here. |
 Older SmarTrip Cards Are No Longer Accepted As of Tuesday, March 1, old farecards are no longer accepted at fare vending machines in stations, fareboxes on buses, parking facilities and retail locations. SmarTrip cards purchased prior to 2012 contain outdated chip technology and do not work with the new faregates now installed or partially installed at nearly half of all stations. Check the serial number on the back of the SmarTrip card. If the serial number does not start with “0167,” it needs to be replaced. Learn more here. For Metrorail Weekend Service Adjustments, Click Here |
 Who Do You Call to Get a Pot Hole Fixed?MCDOT maintains more than 5,200 lane miles of roads in Montgomery County and repairs potholes year-round with dedicated crews that patrol in pothole trucks on weekdays and respond to repair requests as well as stopping to fill other potholes they encounter. For most potholes, MCDOT uses “cold patch” material. However, where potholes require more than a simple fix, multiple visits may be required that will take more than three days because the area may need to be excavated and repaved with asphalt. Residents can report a pothole on a County road to the MC311 system – either online or by phone at 240-777-0311, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. or through Twitter. The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) fills potholes and maintains all numbered routes, such as Maryland routes 355 or 97. Report potholes on state roads directly to MSHA online or by calling 1-800-323-6742. In addition, municipalities, such as the cities of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, handle their own pothole repairs. |
 With Fewer Drivers on the Road During COVID, Why the Spike in Fatalities?As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country, it led to fewer drivers on the roads and a significant reduction in the number of miles driven. And yet, U.S. government data shows traffic fatalities have surged, along with an increase in crashes involving impairment, speeding, red-light running, aggressiveness, and non-seatbelt use. Read AAA’s article here. |
 Transit Goes ElectricPublic transit buses are the next frontier in the critical effort to decarbonize the transportation section, looking at the path forward for zero-emissions transit. In North America, the transportation sector accounts for about a third of all carbon emissions. Public transit, though it contributes a fraction of this total, has long been positioned as a highly visible symbol of commitment to a low carbon future: an environmentally sustainable transport option that can empower communities, support regional congestion relief, and reduce air pollution. Read the latest issue of Dar Magazine here. |
 10 Steps You Can Take to Lower Your Carbon FootprintSmall changes alone won't stop climate change, but your actions are still worthwhile. Read the Washington Post article here. For incentives and free home energy assessments offered by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection click here. |
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