MCDOT's Go Montgomery! Transportation Newsletter - Thursday, Dec. 1

 

Vision Zero Annual Report Released Highlighting Accomplishments and Celebrating Completion of Phase 1 of the Bethesda Bikeway Montgomery County released its annual report for the Vision Zero Initiative to end serious and fatal crashes on roadways by 2030. The Fiscal Year 2022 report details progress made on 114 tasks and projects that were undertaken during the year.  The report was released on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at a ribbon cutting for Phase 1 of the Bethesda Bikeway at Woodmont Avenue. County Executive Marc Elrich joined MCDOT Director Chris Conklin and other County officials to officially open the two new separated bike lanes. The new bikeway segments run along Bethesda Avenue and Willow Lane from the Capital Crescent Trail to 47th Street near Elm Street Park and along Woodmont Avenue between Miller Avenue and Montgomery Lane. Both bikeways are separated from traffic by raised concrete medians to protect cyclists. Durable, bright green paint helps increase the visibility of cyclists and identify potential areas of conflict with turning motorists. They are part of a new two-way bike network in downtown Bethesda that MCDOT will continue to build over the next year. The Vision Zero's Annual Report highlights MCDOT efforts including: Nine projects on High Injury Network (HIN) corridors. HIN corridors represent 3 percent of the County roads and 41 percent of serious and fatal injuries. Four safety audits, two project designs and three construction projects were completed. Installation of eight pedestrian hybrid beacons. The devices provide a red signal for drivers to safely allow people on foot and on bike to cross. 27 bikeway projects. Four have been completed, including the installation of the second and third protected intersections at Bethesda and Woodmont avenues in Bethesda and at Cameron and Fenton streets in Silver Spring. Constructed seven miles of new sidewalk. 40,000 resident engagements across 90 events and five safety campaigns. This includes bike safety rodeos for over 300 school children. View event photos here. Watch the ribbon-cutting event here. MCDOT Posts Placards On Ride On Buses in December to Honor Rosa Parks Day  Montgomery County recognizes Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day, honoring the American hero who refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus on Dec. 1, 1955.  Her arrest sparked the Dec. 5 boycott of city buses by 42,000 African Americans, which helped change the course of America. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 13, 1956, that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional. To honor Parks, MCDOT has placed placards inside all Ride On buses throughout December to commemorate her leadership, activism and bravery. MCDOT Launches Two Grant Programs to Assist Disabled, Seniors and Low-Income Residents With Transportation Needs Two grant programs designed to increase transportation services for disabled, senior and limited income residents were recently launched by MCDOT. Approximately $800,000 in operating and capital budget funds will be available to eligible nonprofits to create assistance programs or enhance existing ones.  Eligible nonprofits are encouraged to apply for funds from the program. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. An online information session for the grant program will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5. Learn more here. MCDOT Leaf Collection to be Completed Mid-December Leaf vacuum collections will continue through mid-December, weather permitting. Residents are asked to pile leaves near the street but off the road. Avoid placing leaves on road shoulders, bike lanes and rain gardens to avoid disruption to traffic, safety, and stormwater systems. Watch this video about the program. Find your home’s scheduled collection dates by entering your address here. Learn more here.  Virtual Public Hearing on Proposed Old Baltimore Road Sidewalk Proposal in Olney to be Held on Wednesday, Dec. 7 On Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the proposed construction of a sidewalk in the Hallowell community on Old Baltimore Road from Menden Farm Drive to the path at the lake. 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. Learn more here. MCDOT Spreads Awareness About Pedestrian Safety at Westfield Wheaton and Montgomery Malls MCDOT's Pedestrian Safety Team will be inside the Westfield Wheaton Mall on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4, and at the Westfield Montgomery Mall on Saturday, Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 18. Stop by the MCDOT table for safety education materials and giveaways and to view the Street Smart’s “Lives Shatter on Impact" wall exhibit and to hear testimonials from those that have been impacted by a pedestrian or bicyclist crash. View photos from last year’s event here. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Street Smart Safety campaign aims to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths in the region. Personal stories are at the heart of the campaign shared via a Testimonial Wall display telling the stories of car crash victims from our region in a way that engages audiences of all ages.  Use Ride On to Get to the Silver Spring Ice Skating Rink at Veteran's Plaza Now Open in Silver Spring The Veteran's Plaza Ice Skating Rink offers lessons and open skate time, which can be reserved online here. For pricing, opening hours and additional information visit the ice rink's website here. Ride On provides service to the Veteran's Plaza rink via the following routes: 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28 and Flash. Bethesda’s Metropolitan Garage 49 Payment System Modernization On or about Tuesday, Jan.  3, MCDOT will change the payment system in the Metropolitan Garage (Garage 49) located at 7601 Woodmont  Avenue in Bethesda. The existing cashier system will be replaced with a gateless pay-by-plate system. The new system will allow customers to prepay at a centralized station. Mobile payment will be available for the first time in the garage giving customers a contactless option. The hours of operation will remain the same. Learn more here.   Montgomery County Executive Elrich Is Holding Hybrid Forums to Seek Input on FY 2024 Operating Budget Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, the County’s regional services offices and community partners are hosting hybrid forums in December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget. The next forum, emphasizing priorities of the senior community, will be conducted on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register to view online or attend live in-person at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Residents can attend most forums in person or view them via the internet. The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY24 operating budget and will go into effect on July 1. Maryland Extends Grace Period for Late Fees on Unpaid Tolls to Wednesday, Dec. 14 Motorists with unpaid video tolls in Maryland will have until Wednesday, Dec. 14 to pay in full and avoid late fees after the state board extended the pandemic-era grace period by two weeks. Vehicle owners may pay their tolls online at driveezmd.com, call 866-320-9995, or visit a customer service center at some toll facilities and MVA offices. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB) Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is Accepting Applications for 2023-2024  Being a member of the Transportation Planning Board's (TPB) Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a great opportunity for residents of the metropolitan Washington region who are interested in regional transportation issues to provide input to decision-makers and promote public involvement in the regional planning process. The CAC meets once a month and advises the region’s metropolitan planning organization on key regional transportation issues, such as transportation funding, environmental concerns, and emergency preparedness issues. Applications can be submitted online here by Monday, Dec. 5. For questions, contact John Swanson at jswanson@mwcog.org or 202-962-3295. METRO UPDATES Metro Celebrates Rosa Parks Day by Reserving a Seat on Every Bus on Thursday, Dec. 1 The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will celebrate Rosa Parks Day by reserving a seat for the civil rights icon on every Metro bus in their transit system. Learn more here. Metrobus Service Changes Effective Sunday, Dec. 11 WMATA will make changes to Metrobus service on 29 routes in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia that include extended late-night Q Line service between Rockville and Shady Grove stations and on weekdays northbound buses departing Silver Spring at 11:13 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. will be changed from Route Q4 to Route Q1 to provide service between Rockville and Shady Grove. Learn more here. Metrorail Weekend Service for Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at 1 a.m. on Saturday. Dec. 3 and midnight Sunday, Dec. 4 with scheduled maintenance on every line.  Due to radio cable installation, North Bethesda (White Flint) and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations are closed. Trains will operate every 10 minutes between Shady Grove and Twinbrook, and Medical Center and Glenmont. Free shuttle buses will be provided. Learn more here. Rockville Metro Station Escalator Replacement Began Monday, Nov. 28 WMATA is replacing the two platform escalators at the Rockville Metro Station. During construction, access to the platform will only be available using one escalator as a two-way staircase or via elevator. Elevators, staircases and access tunnel will remain open. Construction is expected to take approximately 8 months. Learn more here. One Handy Tip to Knowing if Your Metrobus is Real or a 'Ghost Bus' Metrobus riders often complain about “ghost buses” that appear to be coming on an app or website but never actually show up.  Metro’s general manager Randy Clark said that the software team is actively working on the problem and expects riders to see improvements before the end of this year. Read the WJLA article here. For more information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov and subscribe to receive MCDOT news to your mobile phone or email inbox. Interested in receiving MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter? Subscribe here. December 1, 2022 MCDOT Hosts Senior Safety Presentations Focusing on Staying Safe on the Road in December Senior Driver Safety Week is Dec. 5-10 and MCDOT is visiting community and senior centers to meet with seniors and share information and resources on how to identify the signs that make older drivers more vulnerable on the roads and share tips on how to travel more safely. Visit MCDOT’s transportation services website to learn about alternatives to driving, such as riding with a friend, using public transit, or car ride services. Upcoming presentations are scheduled for: Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m., White Oak Senior Center Thursday, Dec. 8 at 11 a.m., Wheaton Community Rec Center Friday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m., North Potomac Senior Center Alcohol Beverage Service (ABS) Hopes Coasters Will Help Prevent Drunk Driving Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Service (ABS) is distributing coasters to prevent drunk driving during the holiday season. ABS is partnering with local businesses to give out coasters with the message “Had one too many? Scan for Ride” and QR code that patrons can scan to view an online list of taxis operating in the county and information about other public transportation services. MCDOT Sidewalk Repair Project Update Sidewalk repair, a seasonal activity, is suspended from November to March or April. The following projects will resume in 2023 when the weather allows: Forest Brook Phase I from Waring Station Road to Wisteria Drive in Germantown. Forest Brook Phase II from Middlebrook Road to Forest Brook Road in Germantown. Kings Bridge from Kings Valley Road to Log House Court in Damascus. The Hampshire Greens from Ednor Road to Norbeck Road in Silver Spring is sixty percent complete and will continue through the winter as the weather allows. For more details, click here. Did You Know the Leaves Collected by MCDOT are Converted Into Leafgro? Leaves collected are stored for a year, then mulched and composted at a facility located in Dickerson, Maryland. It is then packaged and sold as Leafgro®  at local hardware and lawncare stores. Profits from sales are put directly back into the leafing program.  Watch a video on the process here. Unclog the Bay: Keep Your Neighborhood Storm Drains Clean! Take these simple actions to make a BIG IMPACT on your local waterways and prevent flooding on the roads: Keep a broom handy, and frequently sweep up leaves, trash, and sediment that is in front of your storm drain. Call 311 if you have a clogged storm drain. Don’t blow leaves or grass clippings into the street. Leave them on the ground or use a mower to make them into small pieces and use as mulch for free fertilizer. MCDOT's Pike District (White Flint) Project Update in Bethesda This week MCDOT planted trees along Old Georgetown Road and Executive Boulevard. Contractors also poured concrete for medians, curbs and gutters in the Towne Road area. Learn more here. Take the MCDOT Highway Newsletter Survey MCDOT is collecting community feedback on Highway Service’s project newsletter. Feedback will be collected through the end of December with the hope of introducing an updated newsletter design in early January 2023. The improvements will help keep residents informed about projects in their community. View a sample of the current design here and provide feedback here. Upper Beach Drive to Remain Closed to Traffic Year-Round The National Park Service (NPS) announced that it will keep a five-mile portion of Beach Drive in upper DC closed to vehicles year-round, a boon for cyclists and pedestrians who use the major corridor. Beach Drive will remain closed to motorized vehicles in three sections: Broad Branch Road to Joyce Road    Picnic area 10 to Wise Road   West Beach Drive to the D.C.-Maryland line.   Make This Holiday Season Greener   MCDOT is promoting the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) annual “Gift Outside the Box” campaign with ads on Ride On bus interiors and exteriors. The campaign encourages everyone to gift greener this holiday season by supporting local businesses, making more sustainable choices and reducing one's carbon footprint by using alternatives to driving alone.  Call MC311 to Get it Done Have feedback after riding an MCDOT bus? Need to report a down tree, sidewalk or curb damage, streetlight outage,  pothole or a fallen tree limb obstructing a sidewalk or road? Contact MC311 by dialing 3-1-1 or submit your request online at montgomerycountymd.gov/ mc311.

Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.