 Montgomery County Wins Nearly $15 Million ‘Low or No-Emissions’ Award for the First Hydrogen Electric Bus Project on the East CoastMCDOT has won a competitive grant award of nearly $15 million from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the purchase of 13 new hydrogen fuel cell buses and the construction of a green hydrogen fueling site at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance Transit Operations Center in Gaithersburg. The project will be the first public transit application of green hydrogen on the East Coast. The award, from FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, makes the County a leading adopter of this clean technology. The award will enable the replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the County’s Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powered buses. The project advances the County’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. It reduces annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service. Learn more here. |
 Classes for Adults to Learn Basic Bicycle Skills and Training Will Be Available in September, October and NovemberThe Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA), in collaboration with MCDOT, this fall will continue its series of classes to teach adults how to ride bicycles—and how to do it safely. Each class begins at 10 a.m. and lasts for three hours. The classes are open to residents 18-and-over who have never previously ridden a bike or who have not done so in a long time. Advance registration is required to participate. The cost of each class is $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for WABA or Capital Bikeshare members. Classes are limited to 25 people and often fill up quickly. Bicycles and helmets will be provided. To view upcoming dates and locations, click 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. |
 Virtual Hearing on the Proposed Abandonment of Right-of-Way on Kensington Boulevard in Wheaton to be Held on Thursday, Aug. 25MCDOT will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed abandonment of a portion of the public right-of-way on Kensington Boulevard from East Avenue towards Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. This hearing was postponed from Tuesday, Feb. 22. The public will have an opportunity to provide written or oral testimony. Online registration is required by 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19 to attend. Learn more here. |
 Public Invited to Virtual Meeting on the Great Seneca Plan on Tuesday, Sept. 13 Between 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.The meeting will provide a chance for residents to provide feedback on what they love about working or living in the Great Seneca corridor area, discuss and share ideas that will help create a shared vision for the area and inform the recommendations for the Great Seneca plan. Online registration is required to attend. Residents can also provide feedback through an online questionnaire. The Great Seneca area of Montgomery County consists of the area that surrounds the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and the Universities at Shady Grove, as well as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Londonderry, western Quince Orchard, Rosemont and Oakmont neighborhoods. |
 Volunteers Map Heat Islands in Montgomery CountyMore than 100 residents criss-crossed Montgomery County with high-tech thermometers mounted on their cars, to map out which parts of the county are the hottest. It’s part of a national effort to better understand urban heat islands and focus more resources on areas that are sweltering. Read the DCIST article here. |
 Electric Vehicle Ownership Bringing a Charge to Montgomery CountyThe electric vehicle market is growing rapidly in Montgomery County. As of June 2022, there were 16,618 plug-in vehicles registered in the County, with 10,939 of those full battery-electric vehicles. Over the past two years, the number of plug-in vehicles on the road has increased by 60 percent. Learn more here. |
 ‘High Road Economic Inclusion Framework for an Equitable Climate-Ready Economy’ Report Addresses Climate Change, Equity and Economic DevelopmentThe Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with other County departments, agencies and community business stakeholders, has completed the High Road Economic Inclusion Framework for an Equitable Climate-Ready Economy report that lays out a set of integrated strategies addressing climate change, equity and economic development. Learn more here. |
 HOV Privileges Will End Soon in Maryland for Drivers of Electric VehiclesAs of Friday, Sept. 30, the state’s HOV sticker program will end, according to the Motor Vehicle Administration’s website. Under the program, drivers of plug-in or hybrid vehicles, titled and registered in Maryland, have been allowed to use the lanes regardless of the number of passengers. Read the WTOP article here. |
METRO NEWS Starting Monday, Aug. 22 and lasting for approximately 5 months, sections of the bus loop at the Wheaton Metro Station will be closed for a pavement rehabilitation project. During each phase of the work, a different set of bus bays will be closed, and routes will be served by temporary bus stops or alternative bus bays. The first phase lasts six weeks from Monday, Aug. 22 through Monday, Oct. 3. Learn more here. Metrorail Weekend Service Adjustments for Saturday, Aug. 20 Through Sunday, Aug. 21 Learn more here. 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. Metro is Asking for Reinstatement of More Than 25 Trains Transit officials proposed a change to their agreement with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, seeking to operate as many as 27 more 7000-series trains, in addition to eight already allowed on a single day. Learn more here. |
ROAD CLOSURESTurner Construction Closes a Portion of MD 355/Rockville Pike Southbound Lane and Sidewalk in Bethesda Beginning on Monday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Sept. 16 the sidewalk and right southbound lane of MD 355/Rockville Pike will be closed from 10 p.m. through 5 a.m., between Pooks Hill Road and Alta Vista Road for construction at the French International School located at 9650 Rockville Pike in Bethesda. Drivers and pedestrians should travel undistracted through the work zone and be aware of changing vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns. A 5’ width pedestrian crossing will be available for foot traffic while the sidewalk is closed. For questions contact Doug Gellie at 571-457-9019 or dgellie@tcco.com.  New Study Finds Households with Constrained Parking Drive Fewer MilesMore studies over the years have shown us that the price and availability of parking has a strong influence on people’s travel choices. A new study by a cohort of researchers across North America makes that connection even clearer by drawing a direct line from residential parking ratios to household vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Read the SSTI.us article here. |
 Here are the Cars Eligible for the $7,500 EV Tax Credit in the Inflation Reduction ActThe Inflation Reduction Act, the major climate bill, was signed on Tuesday, Aug. 16, changing the availability of electric vehicle tax credits. Now, only EVs assembled in North America qualify for the credits. Today the US government released a preliminary list of which vehicles currently qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit. View the list here. |
 Commuter Apps Trying to Cut Emissions, Boost Equity, Get Federal FundingBacked by a new federal transportation grant, a University of Maryland engineer is trying to put a price on the tailpipe pollution not emitted when a passenger takes Metro or a bus instead of driving. The project involves beefing up an existing app that commuters in the Washington area can use to get cash rewards when they use transit. Read the Washington Post article here. |
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