 Montgomery County Ride On Bus Resumed Fare Collection on Monday, Aug. 1, with New Rate Set at $1After 28 months of temporarily suspending fare collection due to the COVID-19 health crisis, MCDOT’s Ride On bus system has resumed fare collection on all services, including Ride On, Ride On extRa, Flex, and Flash. The new fare is set at $1. The one-way pre-pandemic fare was $2 per ride and monthly passes, which were $45 per rider prior to the health crisis, are now $22.50. County bus fares remain free for seniors (age 65 and older), persons with disabilities and youth under 19 (older if still in high school). Specialized SmartTrip cards are needed and can be obtained through the MCDOT Mobile Commuter Store, Silver Spring TRiPS Commuter Store, any County library or the Montgomery County Division of Treasury in Rockville. Students can also obtain their specialized ‘Youth Cruiser’ card through their school. For riders transferring from a Metrobus, the Ride On fare will be free. The cost is $1 for riders transferring from Metrorail to Ride On. Ride On passengers transferring to a Metrobus will have to pay the $1 difference in fare. The new rates were recommended in a “Fare Equity Study” conducted by MCDOT that recommends the balance of benefits and costs, with benefits primarily accruing to the populations the County is hoping to support. To decrease boarding time and reduce long lines, riders are encouraged to use SmarTrip cards or the SmarTrip mobile app (available for Apple and Android). Riders without pre-paid fares are asked to have the exact fare readily accessible.  REMINDER: SmarTrip Cards Issued Before 2012 Are Due for ReplacementWMATA has installed new faregates at rail stations and upgraded fareboxes on buses. As a result, SmarTrip cards purchased before 2012 will no longer work. If the serial number on the back of your card does not include “0167” it needs to be replaced. For step-by-step instructions on how to replace old cards or transfer balances including Smart Benefits, visit the SmarTrip Card Replacement webpage here. Customers can transfer their balance from a virtual card here. |
 Montgomery County ‘FareShare’ Program Can Help Commuters with Monthly Travel Expenses If They Use Public Transit or VanpoolsCommuters working in Montgomery County can get reimbursed up to $280 a month for using public transit, or vanpooling, by asking their employers to set up a transportation benefits program. MCDOT’s “FareShare” program offers reimbursements to local businesses for their employees’ costs for commuting to work by public transit—and the money is tax-free. In addition to vanpools, the program could cover expenses incurred by commuters using Ride On bus, Metrobus, Metrorail or MARC train to commute to and from a workplace within Montgomery County. Businesses looking to implement or expand a transportation benefit program must commit to covering the first $25 per month of travel costs for employees who use buses or vanpools. The County will cover expenses over the initial $25, up to $280 a month. The full subsidy could be as high as $3,360 per year, per employee. It is tax-free for both the employee and the employer. Learn more here. |
New Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons Hawk beacon was recently installed on Willard Avenue in Chevy Chase. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, sometimes called HAWK (High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk) signals, are designed to help pedestrians safely cross busy streets. The beacon remains dark until a pedestrian presses the signal's push button and activates the signal. For the pedestrian, this signal works like other pedestrian-activated push-button traffic signals in the County, by stopping traffic with a red signal, allowing pedestrians to cross with a WALK signal. For motorists, the button activates a flashing yellow signal to alert approaching drivers that a pedestrian is present and that they should be prepared to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. The light then turns to a solid yellow and then red light. Drivers are expected to come to a complete stop on red and may proceed when the light goes dark, and the pedestrian has safely moved safely out of the crosswalk. Montgomery County has installed several of these beacons in high-traffic areas. MCDOT has been conducting community outreach near these pedestrian beacons to promote their use and educate both drivers and pedestrians on how to use them. Check out some photos of our recent outreach at the following new HAWK locations: Tonight, Thursday, Aug. 4, between 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. the outreach team will be by the Shops at Wisconsin Place promoting the new pedestrian Hybrid Beacon that was installed at Willard Avenue and Hills Plaza in Chevy Chase. The MCDOT team has plans to visit additional communities over the next few months. Check out the Pedestrian Safety website for updates, here.  Public Invited to Virtual Hearing on the Boyds Transit Center on Tuesday, Aug. 16Starting at 7 p.m., MCDOT will discuss the 70% design plans for the Transit Center and the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback. The Boyds Transit Center project will provide a new bus loop and parking lot on the former Anderson property at the Boyds MARC station. This project will address the increased demand for commuter parking at the Boyds MARC station and future Ride On service expansion from Clarksburg to the MARC station. Online registration is required to attend. Learn more here. |
 Proposed Transit Network to Support the Great Seneca Science Corridor and Surrounding AreasThe Great Seneca Transit Network project will advance the planning, design, and implementation of a new bus network to support the Great Seneca Science Corridor and surrounding areas. The network would include 11 stations, dedicated bus lanes and bike lanes, transit signal priority at seven intersections, and new bike and pedestrian connections. The plan is for hubs at the Shady Grove Metrorail Station, the Universities at Shady Grove, and Adventist Shady Grove Hospital. This bus network will provide frequent and reliable connections between Kentlands, Crown Farm, King Farm, the Universities at Shady Grove, Adventist Shady Grove Hospital, Shady Grove Metro, Rockville, and other key destinations in support of the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan. The service, which will be branded as Ride On extRa, is slated to start in 2024.  Council Asks Residents to Complete Survey on Thrive 2050 Plan Related to Racial Equity and Social JusticeThe County Council is asking for residents to participate in a survey that will help guide councilmembers in evaluating the racial equity and social justice portions of Thrive Montgomery 2050 draft plan, according to a press release. Suggestions from the survey will be incorporated into a chapter of the plan dedicated to those topics. There is also an invitation in the survey to sign up for in-person focus groups. The work behind the plan is expected to start this September. Learn more here. |
 Diary of a Pandemic Bus DriverAmid unmasked riders and simmering tensions, a San Francisco bus operator recounts the personal toll of rolling through the Covid-19 crisis. Read the Bloomberg article here. |
METRO NEWS Rockville Metro Station East Side Closure – Temporary Bus Stop Relocations – Extended Through Early October The ongoing Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Administration (WMATA) construction and paving work at the Rockville Metrorail station has been extended through at least early October 2022. All bus stops on the East Side will remain closed and temporarily relocated due to this project, which began on Tuesday, June 7. Bus stops have been moved from the east side to either the west side or on the street at MD 355. Wayfinding signs have been placed at the Metro station to help riders locate their bus stops. Learn more here. Red Line Metro Trains Single-Tracking Until Thursday, Aug. 4 Red Line metro trains are single-tracking between the Silver Spring and Forest Glen metro stations after 10 p.m. each night this week for preventive maintenance. Learn more here. Shorter Waits Have Started on Blue, Orange and Silver Metro Lines Welcome news for customers who ride the Blue, Orange and Silver Metro lines. Trains are arriving every 15 minutes on weekdays, matching service on the Green and Yellow lines. The increased availability of railcars will allow Metro to continue running additional trains as needed to reduce crowding and keep trains on standby throughout the system in the event a train is taken out of service due to unexpected maintenance issues. Learn more here. |
UPDATE ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Long-term Lane Closure on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda On or about Thursday, Aug. 25, Purple Line crews will institute a long-term lane closure of the southbound right lane of Wisconsin Avenue at Elm Street to allow vehicles to access the Purple Line Bethesda station work zone. The closure will remain in place until the completion of the station work. For details about this work and other planned construction in Chevy Chase, Lyttonsville and Silver Spring click here. MDOT SHA Making Safety Improvements at US 29 Locations in Montgomery County Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) is currently working on several projects to improve safety and mobility at key intersections along US 29 in Montgomery County over the next several months. Work on these projects will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. Learn more here. |
 Biden Administration Announces New PROTECT Formula Program to Help Communities Build Resilient InfrastructureIn an ongoing effort to combat the effects of climate change and address the growing costs of extreme weather events negatively impacting communities, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced in a press release the new guidance and $7.3 billion in formula funding to help states and communities better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. |
 Light Rail and Complementary Development Have Broad Effects on Travel BehaviorThe goal of investing substantially in public transportation infrastructure and complementary transit-oriented development (TOD) is to create positive outcomes for communities, including reducing carbon emissions, increasing access to jobs, and reducing reliance on personal vehicles. Two new studies highlight additional impacts of these investments: transit infrastructure leading to increased levels of physical activity and TOD residents forgoing driving for non-commute trips. In one study, researchers reviewed past studies to identify the link between light rail transit (LRT) and physical activity. They found a positive correlation between the presence of LRT and walking, with LRT spurring an increase in walking in seven out of eight studies. With increases ranging from 7 to 40 percent, LRT can be a catalyst for walkable, sustainable neighborhoods. Read the SSTI.us article here. |
 For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot and subscribe to receive MCDOT news to your email inbox or mobile phone. | 
