MCDOT Decorated Love Flash Buses and Some Bus Stops for the Month of February
MCDOT is celebrating love during the month of February with its US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit service that runs along Colesville Road/Old Columbia Pike between Downtown Silver Spring and Briggs Chaney, with service to Burtonsville on weekday rush hours. Five Flash BRT buses are decorated with neon heart lights and heart decals. In addition, riders who visit the Four Corners, Burnt Mills, White Oak and Briggs-Chaney Flash bus stations will see Love Flash Valentine installations.
Montgomery County residents are encouraged to take pictures of the buses or the decorated stations and post them to social media to be entered into a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card. To enter, snap a picture of a decorated Love Flash bus or at one of the decorated Flash stations, and post it on X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or Threads and tag @MCDOTNow for a chance to win a $25 gift card in a weekly, random draw. Be sure to follow the @MCDOTNow account to ensure your post will be seen and you can be contacted The contest will run until Friday, Feb. 28.
For more information on how to ride the Flash bus, and to learn about future corridors, visit RideTheFlash.com.
Pictures of the decorated Flash bus for media use are available on Flickr. Sign up to receive updates on Flash BRT service here.
‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Teen Video Contest Accepting Entries Through Friday, Feb. 28
MCDOT is asking area high school students to spread the message to put their phones away when on the road.
The annual “Heads Up, Phones Down” contest invites teens to create short videos promoting the importance of focusing on their surroundings instead of their phones while walking or driving. Students can win prizes worth up to $800. MCDOT will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) through Friday, Feb. 28.
County public and private high school students are eligible to submit contest videos in English or Spanish individually or in a group of up to four students. Individual entries can win an Apple Mac Book Air, an Apple Watch or tripod. Group entries will split an $800 grand prize, $400 second prize and $200 third prize, with a Visa gift card for each member.
Also, students may qualify for up to five Student Service Learning hours for successfully completing an entry on the contest website.
Winning contestants will be visited by MCDOT staff, and their videos will be posted on MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School website, and shared on @MCDOTNow social media platforms, on Friday, March 14. View last year's winning videos online here.
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The US 29 Flash Service Will Be Extended to Howard County Opening in 2026
Four additional stations north of Burtonsville on US 29 will be built out starting this Spring and will offer frequent bus service during weekday rush hours. The partnership between Montgomery and Howard County will allow for faster, more convenient access to larger transit hubs such as Metro, Marc train and the future Purple Line.
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In-Person Public Forum on Proposed Changes to Ride On Bus Routes on Tuesday, Feb. 18
Starting at 6 p.m., MCDOT is hosting an in-person public forum that will be held at the Mid-County Regional Services Center located at 2425 Reedie Drive (2nd floor conference room) in Wheaton.
MCDOT is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to Ride On bus routes 10, 34, 42 and a new route 40, as well as weekend service changes to Metrobus routes L8 and T2. These changes are planned to take effect on Sunday, June 29. Public feedback has the potential to impact these changes.
These changes are related to the Year 1 implementation phase of the County’s Ride On Reimagined study recommendations and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATAs) Better Bus network redesign.
Learn more here.
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MCDOT Honors Transit Equity in February
MCDOT Ride On buses offered free fares on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in recognition of National Transit Equity Day. The holiday commemorates the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday.
Throughout the month of February, MCDOT Ride On buses will display internal placards that commemorate Rosa Parks for sparking the bus boycott that ultimately established transportation equity as a civil right.
"Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat was about more than one moment—it was about challenging an entire system of injustice," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "Public transit should be a tool for opportunity, not a barrier. In Montgomery County, we recognize that equity in transportation is about access—to jobs, to education, to health care and to a better quality of life. Offering free bus service on Transit Equity Day is a way to honor Parks’ legacy and reaffirm our commitment to making transit more affordable, reliable and accessible for everyone."
MCDOT offers several affordable transit options, with bus fares of $1, and free fare for seniors, persons with disabilities and County youth 18 and under with specialized SmarTrip cards.
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PUBLIC MEETINGS
A Virtual Public Hearing Will be Held on the Proposed Abandonment of Public Right of Way at the Corner of Second Avenue and Fenwick Lane in Silver Spring on Tuesday, Feb. 18
Starting at 1 p.m., MCDOT will discuss the abandonment of the public right of way at the corner of Second Avenue and Fenwick Lane in downtown Silver Spring. The public will have an opportunity to present oral or written comments concerning the abandonment of public right-of-way covering approximately 6,693 square feet located at the southern corner of Second Avenue and Fenwick Lane in Silver Spring.
The abandonment case was petitioned by the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and the Alexander House Development Corporation (the “Applicants”). The petition seeks to abandon the Public Right of Way on the basis that there is no current or anticipated future public use.
Online registration is required by 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, to attend.
In-Person Public Workshop on New Proposed Sidewalks Along Purple Line Metro Stations to be Held on Thursday, Feb. 27
Starting at 6:30 p.m., MCDOT will discuss the proposed Purple Line Station sidewalks in Piney Branch (Silver Spring) and Takoma-Langley (Takoma Park). MCDOT will present project details, costs, and the project schedules. Staff will obtain public comments and answer questions. Public input is encouraged and may influence the final design of these projects.
The in-person public workshop will be held in the Cafeteria or All-Purpose Room of Rolling Terrace Elementary School located at 705 Bayfield Street in Takoma Park.
While the Purple Line is a state, Maryland Department of Transportation project, MCDOT is proposing to install 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalks to make it easier for residents to navigate the area around the new Purple Line stations. MCDOT will also add crosswalks, curb ramps, and other pedestrian amenities, making a positive step towards creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment in Montgomery County. These improvements not only improve access to public transportation but also promote walkability and sustainability in the community.
The following sidewalk proposals will be discussed at the workshop:
Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. All information provided will become a matter of public record.
Safe Routes to School Project for Wheaton Woods Elementary School in Aspen Hill
This summer as part of a countywide effort to identify safe and accessible routes for students walking and bicycling to school, MCDOT completed a walkability study that reviewed the condition of the existing infrastructure and recommended safety improvements that may be implemented within the Wheaton Woods Elementary School walkshed to provide safe and accessible routes for students walking and biking to the school.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback by Friday, Feb. 14. Comments and questions submitted by email to walkyourway@montgomerycountymd.gov or by phone at 240-777-2192. All information provided will become a matter of public record.
Oak Drive (MD 27) Sidewalk Project in Damascus
The Oak Drive (MD 27) Sidewalk project provides for the installation of a concrete sidewalk along the west side of Oak Drive (Phase I) and the east side of Oak Drive (Phase II and III) in Damascus. The Phase I sidewalk along Oak Drive is about 4,200 feet long and includes a 350-foot segment along the south side of Kingstead Road and was installed in 2022.
MCDOT held a public information meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30 to present the project details, costs and schedule. The meeting can be viewed online here.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback by Thursday, Feb. 27. Comments and questions can be submitted via the online comment form or by email to the Project Manager, Kevin Minn at kevin.minn@montgomerycountymd.gov. All information provided will become a matter of public record.
COUNTY NEWS
Big Changes Start Small: Pledge to be Climate Smart
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Montgomery County launched its new Climate Smart Campaign, designed to inspire and inform residents about making climate-smart choices in their daily lives. The campaign encourages individuals to take a “pledge” to be Climate Smart, with the slogan “BIG CHANGE, starts small” serving as a reminder that small actions can lead to significant impacts.
Take the Climate Smart pledge to do little things that will together have a big impact on Montgomery County’s environment It’s an easy first step that will guide you to money-saving, energy-saving, and planet-saving resources in five categories:
- Food: Plan meals before shopping, compost food scraps and buy seasonal produce from local farms and farmers markets.
- Emergency Preparedness: Sign up to receive emergency alerts from Alert Montgomery, make an emergency plan, assess your flood risk and take steps to protect your home and belongings.
- Transportation: Forty two percent of the County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the transportation sector. Simple everyday choices—like taking the bus—can make a significant difference. Use public transportation, download MCDOT's Ride On Trip Planner app, walk or bike more often.
- Energy: Schedule a free Quick Home Energy Checkup, switch to LED lightbulbs and monitor your thermostat.
- Plants: Plant a tree; trees remove carbon from the air, cool the planet, provide habitat and beautify our neighborhoods.
A Call for Responsible Winter Salt Use
Salt corrodes concrete and masonry, poses dangers for wildlife, damages plants and lawns, and harms local streams and rivers. Salt levels have been steadily increasing in local waterways.
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Salt Wise campaign is a simple three-step method for residents to keep sidewalks and driveways safe while also reducing harm to the environment.
- Shovel Right Away: Shovel ice and snow early and often.
- Use Less Salt: Use 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) of salt for 10 sidewalk squares or for a 20-foot driveway.
- Sweep & Reuse: Sweep up excess salt for reuse after the storm.
What is MCDOT doing to limit salt?
MCDOT manages the County’s snowstorm response and applies the minimum amount of salt necessary to ensure public safety during snow events. During storms, staff are regularly checking and reporting road conditions and pavement temperatures to determine if using salt use is necessary in specific locations.
Additionally, MCDOT pretreats roads with salt brine, a 23 percent salt to water solution to reduce the need for salt use.
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METRO NEWS
Weekend Trackwork: Buses Replace Trains on Portions of Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines; Presidents’ Day Service on Monday, Feb. 17 Announced
Metro has planned trackwork on Saturday, Feb. 15, Sunday, Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb. 17 and adjusted service hours on Monday, Feb. 17, due to the Presidents’ Day holiday.
Metro Releases “Metro Rewind” Personalized Ridership Report for 2024
Metro’s second annual personalized ridership report is called Metro Rewind. It builds off the success of last year’s “Your Metro Report,” which nearly 100,000 customers used to learn about their ridership activity from 2023. It was the first report of its kind in the public transit industry.
This year, it includes more data analytics and creative elements to help users celebrate their ridership on Metro and learn how their travel patterns factor into their DMV identity.
In 2024, overall Metro ridership increased more than 12% across Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess compared to 2023. The system had more than 250 million passenger trips.
Metro Starting New Elevator Modernization Project Updating 27 Elevators
Metro is modernizing 27 elevators across more than a dozen location starting Monday, Feb. 10.
Over the next four years, elevator work will happen at various locations including the Rockville and Wheaton Metro stations. Customers with accessibility needs who use elevators can still get to these stations via a shuttle at nearby stations.
Learn more about Metro's Elevator Modernization here.
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