MCDOT's Go Montgomery! Newsletter - April 21, 2022

Face Masks are Encouraged But No Longer Mandatory on County Buses Passengers using Montgomery County’s Ride On buses are no longer required to wear a mask but are strongly recommended to voluntarily wear them. The change to the County’s masking policy comes after the announcement on April 18 that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) decided to suspend enforcement of a mask mandate on all modes of public transportation. Ride On bus operators will no longer be required to wear a mask because of this change. The following have also announced that masks are optional for passengers and employees/drivers: Metro: Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration buses, trains (including MARC trains) and MobilityLink vehicles. Uber and Lyft Ride On buses will continue to provide masks when needed. MCDOT continues to offer free fare to riders until at least July 2. National Arbor Day is Friday, April 29 National Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April. Much like Earth Day, it is a holiday that celebrates nature and encourages people to plant trees. MCDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection will be hosting a press conference on Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. at the East County Community Center, 3310 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904. MCDOT manages about 250,000 trees in the County’s right of way and plants between 1600-1700 trees every year. MCDOT has 7 certified arborists. Trees reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and provide shade and reduce indoor cooling costs. Did you know? The blackgum, or tupelo, is now officially the County tree. This Saturday, during GreenFest at Brookside Gardens, MCDOT arborists will be giving away 400 FREE trees (Bald Cypress, Black Oak and Sweetgum) and shrubs (Black Chokeberry, Gray Dogwood and Possumhaw). Stop by MCDOT's table and speak with County arborists who will be onsite to answer questions and provide guidance on the planting/caring of trees and shrubs.  MCDOT's Annual Sweeping Program Now Underway / 4,000+ Lane Miles Will Be Swept MCDOT's Street Sweeping Program runs from April through June. Last year, crews swept over 4,100 lane miles of residential roadways, removing over 1,200 tons of debris. “No Parking” signs will be posted in neighborhoods a few days in advance of sweeping operations. Residents can find the sweeping schedule, view the map and FAQs online here. These efforts help to promote the health and vibrancy of our local watersheds as well as the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. MCDOT Begins Spring/Summer Cleaning of County Garages MCDOT has begun its semi-annual interior washdown to degrease and clean 21 County-owned parking garages in Silver Spring, Bethesda and Wheaton. Twice a year, MCDOT performs a spring and a fall washdown to ensure the cleanliness of garages and to protect and prevent deterioration of the structures from prolonged exposure to salt, sand, oils, gas, dirt, pollen and leaves. The regular cleanings also help keep grease, oil and debris out of our waterways. Learn more here. MCDOT Kicks Off Planning Study for the North Bethesda Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)/Flash Bus Service; Public Input Needed by Friday, April 29 MCDOT's BRT service, branded Flash, provides upgraded bus service on select corridors. The County is looking to extend this bus service to North Bethesda. MCDOT has kicked off a planning study to assist in determining the street layout, location of stations and the endpoints of the corridor. Residents can provide feedback on how and why they travel in North Bethesda and preferred station locations by taking a brief project survey in English or Spanish here. To receive updates on the North Bethesda BRT, sign up here. Free Cinco de Mayo Lyft Rides Offered Throughout Greater Washington to Prevent Drunk Driving Preparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one-third (39%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) announced that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during next month’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations. WRAP’s 2022 Cinco de Mayo SoberRide® code will be valid from 4 p.m. Thursday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) until 4 a.m. Friday, May 6,  as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period. Limited quantities are available for the first 1,500 passengers who enter the code. Learn more at soberride.com. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Outlines Positive Path for Montgomery County in ‘State of the County’ Address Held on Thursday, April 14 County Executive Marc Elrich delivered his “State of the County” address and wants residents to know the County has the best budget it has seen in many years. In his address, County Executive Elrich highlighted many projects including: The expansion of MCDOT's Bus Rapid Transit through the Flash program throughout the County. The County Climate Action Plan proposed last year, which is one of the most aggressive plans nationally.  Maryland General Assembly Earmarks $120 Million for Montgomery County Transit Projects Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich praised the Maryland General Assembly after it earmarked $120 million for various transportation projects within the county of 1.1 million people. The state funding will allow Montgomery County to purchase more zero-emission buses, and cover costs associated with building a north entrance at the White Flint Metro station in North Bethesda. Read the ABC7 article here. MCDOT Continues to Manage Rustic Roads Program Roads in the Rustic Roads Program are narrow, low volume roads used by drivers, farmers, equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers and reflect the agricultural character and rural origins of Montgomery County. Each road is unique, and some have special surfaces such as gravel or concrete that have become rare. They are public roads that receive routine maintenance by MCDOT or the Maryland State Highway Administration, but because of their inclusion in the program, significant features of these roads are conserved. The program is supported by the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee which consists of residents, farmers, and advocates. Rustic roads are also a part of MCDOT's Adopt A Road program, where residents can volunteer to remove litter from County roadsides before it reaches local streams or clogs storm drains that feed into the Potomac/Patuxent Rivers and our water supply.   Winner of Bethesda's 'Paint the Town' Contest Begins to Paint Mural: Sidewalk to be Closed for 8 Weeks Beginning Monday, April 25, the Bethesda Urban Partnership will close the sidewalk from Woodmont Avenue to St Elmo Avenue to paint the selected mural on the side of MCDOT’s public parking Garage 11 located at 7661 Old Georgetown Road. The sidewalk closure will take place Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. for 8 weeks. Pedestrians will be diverted at the crosswalks at Woodmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road and St Elmo Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The parking garage entrance and exit lanes on Old Georgetown Road will also be closed during this time. Residents can access the garage from the Woodmont Avenue entrance.  MCDOT partners with the Bethesda Urban Partnership for the “Paint the Town” initiative to bring more public art to the County. This is the second mural project MCDOT has undertaken to enhance the vibrancy of highly visible County spaces. The first mural, completed in 2020, is located outside the Woodmont-Rugby public parking garage located at 8216 Woodmont Avenue.  Purple Line Full-Scale Construction To Resume Late Spring and Summer Purple Line Transit Partners, in close coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration, announced financial close, which secures funding for the remainder of construction as well as for future operations and maintenance of the Purple Line. Full-scale construction will resume to complete the 21-station light rail line by fall 2026. Later this spring and summer, neighboring residents and business will see a resumption of activity on major project elements, including stations, overpasses, tunnels and track installation. The Purple Line will provide rapid, convenient transit service between New Carrollton in Prince George’s County and Bethesda in Montgomery County. The east-west line will connect with five branches of Metrorail, three MARC commuter rail lines, Amtrak and a host of bus services. As it supports community revitalization and transit-oriented development, the Purple Line also will help reduce dependence on auto travel. Sign up to receive updates here. Visioning the Future of Transportation One of MCDOT’s partners, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is conducting a public survey to learn about Marylanders’ understanding of self-driving vehicles, and we want to hear from you.  Please complete a 10-minute survey by Friday, May 13 (available in English and in Spanish):  Your answers to this survey are completely anonymous and no information can be connected to you. This survey is voluntary, and you may skip questions or leave this survey at any time. We will share results from this survey with stakeholders, such as universities, and local jurisdictions in Maryland, so that we can all make more informed decisions for our communities. For questions related to this survey, please contact MDOT SHA at SHACAV@mdot.maryland.gov. Maryland is actively preparing for self-driving vehicle technology. Learn more here. METRO UPDATE Metro Suspends Mask Mandate, Effective Immediately Metro has made masks optional on Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess. Masks also will be optional for Metro employees. Learn more here. Metrorail Red Line Trains Single Tracking From Saturday, April 23 Through Sunday, April 24 Plan ahead for the scheduled track closure between the Silver Spring and Glenmont Metro stations for grout pad rehabilitation and maintenance this weekend. Metro will offer free shuttle buses between stations. Learn more here. ROAD & SIDEWALK CLOSURES A portion of Colesville Road Sidewalk and Lane Closures in Silver Spring Starts Monday, April 25 The Montgomery County Department of General Services will perform nighttime work for the installation of public water services at 8410 Colesville Road beginning on Monday, April 25, between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Monday and projected to take four nights to complete. The work includes a sidewalk closure along the east or south side of Colesville Road from Wayne Avenue to Georgia Avenue and up to a two lane closure on the northbound lanes of Colesville Road. For comments or questions contact Michael Kay at michael.kay@montgomerycountymd.gov. A portion of Sidewalk and Lane Closures on Colesville Road/US 29 Through Late Summer Beginning on April 25, on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the United Therapeutics Corporation will close the right lane and a portion of the sidewalk on Colesville Road/US 29 between Spring Street and Fenton Street to construct a daycare playground at 1000 Spring Street. The parking meters along Colesville Road will be unavailable during this time. Pedestrians will be directed to use the crosswalk at Spring Street and Colesville Road and the crosswalk at Fenton Street and Colesville Road. For comments or questions contact Vincent Denissen, Buch Construction Project Manager at 301-369-3500. Maryland Bill Aims to Make Walking to School Safer for Students Read the WTOP article here. New Study Finds That E-Bike Riders Quadrupled Their Cycling Distance Over a Six Month Period A Norwegian study found that cyclists who purchase e-bikes make more trips by bike and ride longer distances. Read the road.cc article here. For transportation updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot or sign up to receive the latest MCDOT news. Thursday, April 21, 2022 THIS WEEKEND: Bring Your Family to ‘GreenFest’ at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton on Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. GreenFest is Montgomery County’s premier environmental festival, featuring a wide array of activities and programs including kid’s tree climbing, face painting, green arts and crafts fair, children’s yoga, plant giveaways, an electric vehicle and car show, and locally-based food trucks will be onsite serving a variety of fare.  Park for FREE at the Glenmont Metro Station and enjoy MCDOT's free Ride On shuttle service running every 15 minutes to and from Brookside Gardens between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Due to anticipated high attendance and no parking at Brookside Gardens, consider riding your bicycle. There will be bike rack locations set up at the event.  Be sure to visit MCDOT's table to learn about our green initiatives. Celebrate Earth Day All Month This year, Earth Day will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday, April 22 to demonstrate and promote environmental awareness. Montgomery County has embraced environmental stewardship as a fundamental responsibility to preserve and sustain the planet. View a list of events in the area here. MCDOT supports Earth Month activities all year long. See what MCDOT is doing to help improve environmental quality here. Participate in stream cleaning, plant a tree, walk or ride a bike, or take Flash to your destination (on US 29). MCDOT Takes Part in Bike to Work Day Friday, May 20; Registration is Open On Friday, May 20, MCDOT and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association will sponsor “Bike to Work Day,” an annual celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work or take a break from teleworking. The first 15,000 people to register and participate will receive a free T-shirt and will automatically be entered into a raffle for a new bicycle. This year MCDOT will return to the pre-COVID festivities and sponsor six pit stops: Downtown Bethesda Friendship Heights North Bethesda-Pike & Rose Rockville-Fallsgrove Rockville-Town Square Silver Spring-Veterans Plaza Each location will welcome bicyclists with refreshments, vendor displays, live music, giveaways and raffle prize drawings and the chance of winning one of two bikes that will be raffled.  MCDOT Continues to Sponsor Free E-Scooter Safety Training Classes for Individuals 18+ Participants can take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws. Drop by anytime during the two-hour class. No registration is required to attend. Participants must have a valid driver’s license.  Saturday, April 30 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at Upper County Recreation Center, Gaithersburg Saturday, May 7 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at Wheaton Ice Arena, Wheaton Saturday, June 11 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at Montgomery College Campus, Rockville Learn more here. WORK WITH US MCDOT IS HIRING This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of multimodal travel in the county. MCDOT is highlighting the following positions: in our Division of Transportation Engineering Planning and Design Section: Engineer I/II/III - Job IRC53821. Senior Planning Specialist - Job IRC53897. in our Division of Highway Services an entry level position with advancement opportunities and paid CDL training is open to adults 18 and over:  Equipment Operator Apprentice - Job IRC53886 is open until April 29. Search the above job numbers for more details at MCG Careers. MCDOT Hiring Full-Time and Part-Time Bus Operators MCDOT is actively hiring bus operators, no experience is necessary. The position offers paid CDL license training, a competitive benefits package and ongoing professional development opportunities. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and can apply here. Bus Rapid Transit Improves Property Values, Study Says Bus rapid transit lines improve nearby property values, according to an Ohio State University study.  MCDOT's Adult Learn to Ride Class in Bethesda Was a Success Twenty participants attended the MCDOT-sponsored Adult Learn to Ride class on Saturday, April 9 at Westfield Montgomery Mall to learn how to ride a bicycle. Most were riding independently by the end of the class and others made great progress. All of our spring 2022 classes are sold out but check MCDOT's Commuter Services' website and @MCDOTNow on Twitter and Instagram for future classes this fall. MCDOT Currently Has Four Electric Buses in Operation With Ten More on the Way MCDOT is striving to reach a zero-emissions fleet by 2035. April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,142 lives in 2020. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads safe. Struggling to not text and drive? Put your cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination. Watch this video by NHTSA. Expect Delays on the MARC Brunswick Line In a service alert posted online by the Maryland Transit Administration, CSX Transportation is performing trackwork on the Brunswick Marc Line until Thursday, May 12. Riders may experience 10-15 minute delays caused by temporary speed restrictions. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.