 Montgomery County and WSSC Water to Detail ‘Salt Wise’ Campaign, Using Less Salt and Keeping People Safe During Winter StormsMontgomery County could experience the first winter weather mix of the season this week. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), MCDOT and WSSC Water are emphasizing the impact excessive salt use can have on the environment. Salt runs off into storm drains, local streams and eventually, to the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. Those waterways are drinking water sources for 1.9 million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Salt can corrode concrete and masonry, harm pets, damage surrounding plants and lawns and adversely impact the water supply. Learn more here.   MCDOT Hosts Virtual Meeting on New Hampshire Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study Today, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.Join MCDOT’s online meeting to learn about and provide input to the New Hampshire BRT study. Register online here. |
 MCDOT’s Ride On Reimagined Study - Call for Focus Group MembersMCDOT is recruiting community members for focus groups. Participants will be asked to attend two, two-hour focus group sessions held from 6 to 8 p.m. on weeknights. The Ride On Reimagined Study is a comprehensive, forward-looking assessment of the bus network that will result in significant recommended changes to how transit operates in Montgomery County based on current and future needs. This study will take an in-depth look at Montgomery County’s existing and planned transit systems, including Metrobus services that operate within the County limits and the future Purple Line, through data analysis and community engagement. Learn more here. |
 Public Invited to Virtual Forum on Proposed Ride On Bus Route 51 Extension in Olney on Thursday, Jan. 5MCDOT will hold a virtual public forum on Thursday, Jan. 5, starting at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed extension of the current bus route 51 to provide service to the ICC Park and Ride lot in Olney. The new proposed extended bus route 51 will operate between the ICC Park and Ride lot and Glenmont Metrorail Station with no additional changes to current stops. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions. Learn more here. |
 Public Invited to Virtual Hearing on Proposed Sidewalk Proposal in Silver Spring on Wednesday, Jan. 18On Wednesday, Jan. 18, starting at 7 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the proposed construction of a sidewalk in the Roscoe Nix Elementary School community on Oakview Drive from Dilston Road to New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. At the virtual hearing, MCDOT will present the project details, costs, schedules and obtain public testimony. If approved, the completed project will enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities as they travel to nearby schools and facilities. Public input is encouraged and will influence whether MCDOT constructs any, all or a portion of the proposed sidewalks. Online registration is required to attend. The public is encouraged to review the proposal files on the project website. |
 MCDOT Completes Leaf Collection This WeekMCDOT crews finished leaf collection on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Year-round options are available for bagged leaf collection with paper lawn bags on your recycling day or by bringing leaves to the Shady Grove Transfer Station. Another option is mowing them into your lawn and leaving them in place to fertilize your yard. Watch this video to learn what we do with the collected leaves. Learn more at montgomerycountymd.gov/leafing. |
 Update on Gaithersburg Plane CrashThe National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the small plane that crashed into power lines in Gaithersburg near the Montgomery County Airpark on Sunday, Nov. 27. The plane struck and severed power lines and dangled about 100 feet in the air before Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service could rescue the two people trapped inside the plane. The crash left 120,000 without power. The power outage affected approximately 125 traffic signal lights, phone lines and Metro's Red Line. Montgomery County schools were closed the following day. MCDOT’s Gaithersburg East depot managed emergency road closures and detours. While many of the traffic signals were connected to battery backup systems MCDOT’s Transportation Management Center worked to identify and reboot traffic signals that were offline due to the power interruption. MCDOT’s Sign Shop helped set up safe traffic routing around the collision site. |
 MCDOT's Storm Operation Staff Partners with National Weather Service On Tuesday, Dec. 13, MCDOT’s Storm Operations Center (SOC) staff joined other neighboring agencies and jurisdictions that are involved in snow removal operations, including SHA, VDOT, and Prince Georges County, to discuss short and long-range forecasting, snow season preparations and snow removal best practices at the National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office in Sterling, VA. NWS hosts monthly meetings to assist in weather discussions and provide forecasting tools. At this particular meeting, tabletop exercises were conducted to prepare the agencies for various types of winter weather events. While there, Chris Strong with the NWS gave a tour of the facility. The following photos include the forecast office, regional radar and weather balloon launching station. MCDOT's SOC activates during snow events and acts as a central hub to monitor weather conditions and the County's response. |
 MCDOT Welcomes New Ride On Bus OperatorsMCDOT is continually hiring and training new bus operators. The latest class of Ride On bus operators graduated on Friday, Dec. 9. The next training class starts on Tuesday, Jan. 3. MCDOT’s Bus Operator training is a 6-week course that covers a variety of topics. In order to pass the course, aspiring operators must achieve a passing grade on the "Skills Pad" driving course and master customer service skills. Congratulations to the recent graduates. MCDOT is appreciative of the work that all our operators do to provide the best transportation service possible. |
 Montgomery County Launches Maryland’s First ‘EV Purchasing Co-op Dealership Incentive Program’ to Share Information and Reduce Cost of Buying Electric VehiclesDEP will be helping residents find discounts on electric vehicles (EVs) with the launch of its new “EV Purchasing Co-op Dealership Incentives” web page. The program is the first in Maryland where a local jurisdiction is partnering directly with local automobile dealerships to provide incentives and discounts for EV purchases. Residents and businesses can join the EV Purchasing Co-op and pledge to make their next vehicle electric. Since launching the first phase of the Co-op in January 2022, more than 1,000 residents and businesses have made the pledge. Learn more here. Did you know? MCDOT has 22 ChargePoint EV charging stations in County garages that allow motorists to add 10 to 20 miles of range to their vehicle for every hour of charge time. Charging stations are in Garages 11, 31, 35, 40, 47 and 57 in Bethesda; Garages 5, 7, 9, 60, 61 and Lot 29 in Silver Spring; and Garage 13 and 45 in Wheaton. Pepco EV charging stations are coming soon in Garages 40 and 57 in Bethesda; and Garage 58 in Silver Spring. Learn more here. |
 Free Sober Rides Offered for the Winter HolidaysPreparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers (39%, Christmas; 49%, New Year’s Day – NHTSA, 2020), a local nonprofit organization is offering free safe rides to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington Metropolitan area during the winter holidays beginning on Friday, Dec.16. Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2022 Holiday SoberRide® program will be in operation nightly from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, as way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday period. Each evening during this six-hour period, area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download Lyft to their phones, then enter a SoberRide® code in the app’s ‘Promo’ section to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. A separate Holiday SoberRide® promo code will be posted at 9 p.m. on Dec. 16, 23 and 31 on SoberRide.com. Last December, 461 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used the free safe ride service rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide® program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and Halloween. Learn more here. |
 New HOV 3+ Requirement on I-66With the final section of the I-66 Express Lanes corridor completed, both inside and outside the beltway, the HOV requirement for toll-free travel now requires three or more travelers to ride in one vehicle to use the express lanes free of charge. Learn more here. |
 REAL ID Deadline Extended Again: What It Means for MD ResidentsThe Homeland Security Department has once again extended the deadline for REAL ID enforcement, moving it from May 2023 to May 2025. Officials said the extension is needed, in part, because of lingering problems from COVID-19 that caused backlogs in state agencies charged with issuing driver’s licenses. Learn more here. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission, which established minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards. Now, under a new regulation, people 18 and up will need a REAL ID compliant card for domestic air travel. |
METRO UPDATE Metrorail Weekend Service for Saturday, Dec. 17 Through Sunday, Dec. 18 Metro crews will be working on the Red Line between Glenmont and Forest Glen to replace the switch in the interlocking that allows trains to transfer from one track to another. Learn more here. Make Metro Your Safe Trip on New Year’s Eve Are you planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the region? #YourMetro today announced Metrorail and Metrobus service will be extended until 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan.1. Additionally, all trips will be free for customers who choose Metro after 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.31. WMATA Asks for Public Input on Five-Year Strategic Plan #YourMetro, The Way Forward This week Metro released an update for customers and stakeholders on the development of a new strategic plan, #YourMetro, The Way Forward. The plan will provide a long-term strategy and direct Metro’s day-to-day decision making over the next five plus years. The update outlines draft goals focused on service excellence, regional opportunity and partnership, sustainability and talented teams. The public is encouraged to provide comments on the plan development by Thursday, Jan. 5 using an online form here. Feedback will be incorporated into the initial draft presented to Metro's Board of Directors in January 2023. After that, the final draft will be shared in early 2023 for additional public review and input. Learn more at wmata.com/strategicplan. WMATA Began Phase 4 of Temporary Bus Stop Relocations at Rockville Metrorail Station on Wednesday, Dec. 7 Due to WMATA performing bus shelter replacements at the Rockville Metrorail Station, the Westside of the station is experiencing temporary bus stop relocations. Closures and relocations take place in phases. Phase 4 of the closures impact Ride On Routes 46 and 55 through Tuesday, Dec. 20. - Bay A (Ride On Route 46) will use T5
- Bay B (Ride On Route 55) will use T6
Rockville Metro Station Escalator Replacement Began On Monday, Nov. 28, Metro began replacing the two platform escalators at the Rockville Metro Station. While the escalators are being replaced, access to the platform will only be available using one escalator as a two-way staircase or via elevator. All elevators, as well as the staircases and tunnel used to access the station, will remain open. The replacement of both escalators is expected to take approximately eight months. Learn more here. |
 DC Council Moves to Make Metrobus Free in the DistrictD.C. Councilmembers unanimously voted in favor of a bill that would make hopping on a Metrobus in D.C. free. Read the Washington Post article here. |
 Safety Advocates Release Roadway Safety RecommendationsOn Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) joined Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and other safety leaders to release the 2023 Roadmap to Safety report outlining ways to reduce deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. The advocates hope the report will serve as a guide for state legislatures, Congress, and the U.S. Department of Transportation when reversing the nation’s skyrocketing roadway traffic fatality and injury rate. According to the group, on average, more than 115 people died on America’s roads every day in 2021. Speeding, impaired driving, and failure to use seat belts are among the causes of those deaths, the group said. Statistics show that traffic fatalities have increased by 19 percent since before the pandemic and that deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists have increased 62 percent in the last decade. The 20th edition of the report outlines 16 countermeasures to make roads safer, primarily through legislation. Additionally, it rates states for their progress in achieving safer roads through legislation on occupant protection, child passenger safety, teen driving, impaired driving, distracted driving, and automated enforcement to curb speed. Five states – Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington – received green ratings. Read the Transportation Today article here. |
 A Strong Rebound for Shared Bikes and ScootersThe popularity of “micromobility” services – such as shared bikes and scooters – surged after the first year of the pandemic, with 2021 becoming the second-busiest year on record, according to a new report. Last year’s ridership on scooters and bike shares hit 112 million trips, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. That was nearly double the number of trips in 2020. Read the Route Fifty article here. |
 Scientists Thought Carbon Emissions Had Peaked. They’ve Never Been HigherNear the end of 2020, as the covid-19 pandemic continued to rage, a few climate scientists and energy experts made a prediction. They estimated that emissions from fossil fuels — which had just plummeted thanks to the global pandemic — might never again reach the heights of 2019. Perhaps, they speculated, after over a century of ever more carbon dioxide flowing into the atmosphere, the world had finally reached “peak” emissions. Read the Washington Post article here. |
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