MCDOT Provides Free Fare on Earth Day, April 22
To encourage local travelers to try the bus, MCDOT is waiving the $1 bus fare on County buses including Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On flex and Flash on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22.
While all bus service saves emissions over independent car travel, MCDOT is committing to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. The department has 14 electric buses in operation currently and has a contract for the purchase of 100 additional electric vehicles over the next three years.
The international theme for Earth Month and Earth Day—April 22—is “Our Power, Our Planet.” The theme invites everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
There is no better time to try out environmentally friendly forms of transportation. MCDOT offers a free trip planning app, Ride On Trip Planner, that provides transportation planning across multiple modes regionally, including Ride On, Metro and Bikeshare. The app gives estimated travel times, costs and live Ride On bus arrivals.
Montgomery County Ride On Bus Service: What You Need to Know about the Ride On Reimagined Final Report
MCDOT’s Ride On Reimagined Bus Service and Implementation Plan is the culmination of over two years of research, planning and coordination. The effort examined the transit landscape of Montgomery County, including MCDOT Ride On and Metrobus service. The study generated recommendations to support both current and future needs of riders. Implementation of the recommended improvements will take place in phases over the next several years.
The first phase of implementation will occur this summer and focuses on changes that will immediately improve service for thousands of riders.
Year 1: Immediate Changes (June 29, 2025):
To learn more about the plan and how it will shape the future of public transportation in Montgomery County, read the Ride On Reimagined Final Report.
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Montgomery County Public Middle Schools Invited to Participate in MCDOT’s Paint the Plow Contest; Registration Closes Friday, April 11
MCDOT welcomes public middle schools across the County to participate in the fourth annual ‘Paint the Plow’ competition to name and decorate a snowplow for a chance to win cash prizes for their school. Public middle schools have until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11 to register online to participate in the Paint the Plow contest.
Participation is free and paint supplies are provided by MCDOT. Winning public middle schools will be eligible for a $500 first prize, a $300 second prize and a $200 third prize. The popular snowplows are deployed across the County during snowstorms in the winter months.
The painted plows will be available for viewing and public voting during MCDOT’s free, family-friendly Truck Day event, which will be held on Saturday, May 17, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., at MCDOT’s Truck Depot and Salt Barn, located at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville.
Visit the contest website for more information and to view last year’s winning plow designs.
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Montgomery County Announces Winners of ‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Teen Video Contest
High school students across Montgomery County have a message for their peers: “Put those phones away when driving or walking.” That theme was emphasized as MCDOT announced the winners of a student video contest on Thursday, March 20. The contest was open to public and private high school students who produced videos encouraging peers to not allow cell phones to distract them while driving. Videos were submitted individually or as a group.
The MCDOT Pedestrian Safety team visited the schools of each winner on Friday, March 14, to surprise the creators of the top entries with prizes, balloons and fanfare.
Individual Winners:
Group Winners:
- Grand Prize: David Salinas and Zachary Long, Seneca Valley. ‘Chatterbox.’
- First Runner Up: Mirae Denaro and Tyler Skibo, Walter Johnson. ‘Heads Up Phones Down 2025.’
- Second Runner Up: Mohammad Abbasi and Everett Welsh, Walter Johnson. ‘HUPD Poem.’
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Drivers Celebrating With Alcohol on Cinco De Mayo Have Safe Travel Options
MCDOT urges residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol to plan ahead for a safe ride home.
Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider the use of one of the following safe ride options:
- SoberRide is a free ride home program for adults offered through the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) in partnership with Lyft. WRAP’s SoberRide® program will be in operation beginning at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) through 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6. Participants must be 21+.
- MCDOT’s Ride On bus service is available with a fare of $1. There are currently 80 routes throughout the County that operate daily. Download MCDOT's free regional public transit app, Ride On Trip Planner, to plan your next trip.
- Learn about year-round safe ride options on the Montgomery County Vision Zero safe ride home webpage.
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Annual Street Sweeping Program Underway in Montgomery County
MCDOT's annual Street Sweeping Program began on Tuesday, April 1. The effort will run through July and will sweep 4,240 lane miles of residential roadways. These efforts help to promote the health of local watersheds by removing salt and debris that would otherwise be swept into waterways.
Last year, crews collected and removed close to 1,000 tons of debris. Sweeping routes are prioritized based on their proximity to sensitive watershed areas identified by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.
Residents can find the sweeping schedule by visiting MCDOT’s Street Sweeping webpage and clicking on their area within the map. Dates are approximate and may be affected by weather. To see the sweeping schedules in a table, click on the drop-down arrow on the bottom of the map.
MCDOT will post “No Parking” signs a few days in advance of sweeping operations. Cars will not be towed for this effort, but street sweepers will not be able to return to re-sweep areas where cars were parked.
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Montgomery County Offers Discounted Parking Permits for Qualifying Childcare Providers in Downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton
A Specialized Child Care Provider Parking Permit was recently established to provide discounted parking in County garages for licensed child care providers that receive State or County subsidies, accept subsidized placement and are located within the Downtown Parking Lot Districts in Bethesda, Silver Spring or Wheaton.
Applications will be reviewed by MCDOT for approval. A limited number of permits will be released at a discounted rate.
Child care providers can access the application online and submit it via email with copies of corresponding documents to parking@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The will cost $10 per month and are valid from 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at any long-term parking space in a County-owned garage. The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation authorizing the permits at a March 4 meeting.
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Montgomery County Offering Adult Bike and E-Scooter Classes in May and June
MCDOT will offer low-cost adult bike classes and free, walk-up e-scooter classes following select bike classes.
Advance registration is required to participate in the bicycle classes, with a cost of $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) or Capital Bikeshare For All members. However, registration is still required.
The bike classes are open to residents 18 and over, limited to 25 people, and fill up quickly. Online registration for May classes is now open on the WABA website under the classes tab. June class registration will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 2. Registration is full for all April bike classes.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedule:
- Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kings View Road, Germantown.
- Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring.
- Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Farm Women’s Market, Lot 24, 4601 Leland Street, Bethesda.
- Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m.-noon. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.
- Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m.-noon. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.
- Sunday, June 22, 9 a.m.-noon. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.
Adult Basic Skills Bike Class schedule:
There is no fee or registration required for the adult e-scooter classes. Walk-ups are welcome. The two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis and do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters and helmets will be provided.
Adult E-Scooter Classes in April:
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MCDOT Launches Middle School Art Contest to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Ride On Bus Service
MCDOT’s Ride On bus service middle school art contest celebrates 50 years of Ride On service in Montgomery County and will accept entries through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15.
The contest is designed to educate students about quality-of-life impacts of public transportation and encourage its use. Winning artwork should depict one or more Ride On bus services and capture the value that Ride On brings to the community.
Students will earn five Student Service Learning hours for submitting artwork. The winning entry will receive a $100 Amazon gift card, second place entry will receive a $75 Target gift card and third place will receive a $50 Visa gift card. The first-place winner’s art entry will also be displayed on all Ride On buses. The top 10 entries will be displayed throughout Montgomery County government buildings. The middle school with the most entries will receive a $500 gift card for art supplies.
Winners will be announced at the Ride On 50th Anniversary Celebration in May. Students and parents can learn more about the contest on the MCDOT contest website.
MCDOT Plants 1,200 Trees in Public Right Of Way For Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant
With the exception of 16 planting locations on hold due to a roadway construction project, MCDOT's Tree Maintenance Section and its nonprofit partner, Casey Trees, have completed their 1,200-tree Urban Trees grant. The grant is part of a legislative initiative passed by the Maryland General Assembly to plant 5,000,000 trees by 2031.
View this to see the visual impact of the nearly 1200 trees planted under the grant.
Combined with MCDOT’s traditional , over 2,495 new street trees were planted last season.
Street trees shade cars and houses, filter the air, make neighborhoods more walkable, and protect streams. Trees have been shown to improve both physical health by filtering air, as well as promoting mental well-being.
MCDOT arborists will distribute free tree and shrub seedlings at this year’s on Saturday, April 22 in downtown Wheaton.
Learn more about how to in the right-of-way along your neighborhood road.
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For each of the public meetings listed below, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Written testimony carries the same weight as oral testimony. Testimony and information provided will become a matter of public record and may influence the project.
A Virtual Public Hearing to be Held on the Proposed Disposition of a Portion of the Colesville Commuter Parking Lot in Silver Spring on Tuesday, April 15
On Tuesday, April 15, starting at 2 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual (online) public hearing to discuss the possible disposition of 14 parking spaces at the Colesville Commuter Lot, located at 13504 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. The parking spaces will be used for installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in partnership with a private developer. The developer will provide 4 DC fast charging EV stations open to the public which will expand the EV infrastructure for the area.
To attend, online registration is required by Friday, April 11 at 5 p.m.
Public feedback is due by Friday, April 25 via email to the Project Manager, David Harris at david.harris@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Learn more here.
A Virtual Public Hearing to be Held on the Proposed Disposition of a Portion of the Columbia Boulevard Public Parking Lot in Silver Spring on Tuesday, April 15
On Tuesday, April 15, starting at 1 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual (online) public hearing to discuss the possible disposition of 14 parking spaces in the Columbia Boulevard Public Parking Lot (Lot 12), located at 1920 Seminary Road. The parking spaces will be used for installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in partnership with a private developer. The parking lot is managed by the County and is within the Silver Spring Parking Lot District. The developer will provide 4 DC fast charging EV stations open to the public which will expand the EV infrastructure for the area.
To attend, online registration is required by Friday, April 11 at 5 p.m.
Public feedback is due by Friday, April 25 via email to the Project Manager, David Harris at david.harris@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Learn more here.
Virtual Public Hearing on the Consideration of a Leighton Avenue Access Restriction in Silver Spring to be Held on Monday, April 28
On Monday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual (online) public hearing to discuss a requested Leighton Avenue access restriction in Silver Spring. The project provides for the installation of a regulatory sign to restrict right turns from westbound Franklin Avenue onto Leighton Avenue from 7 – 9 a.m. and from 4 – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The request was made by residents of Leighton Avenue, in accordance with Executive Regulation 17-94AM, “Through Traffic Volume Access Restrictions in Residential Areas.”
To attend, online registration is required by Friday, April 16 at 5 p.m.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback by Monday, May 19 via the online comment form or by email to the Project Manager, Kadidja Ayeva at Kadidjatou.Ayeva@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Learn more here.
Virtual Public Information Meeting on the Brink Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project in Gaithersburg to be Held on Wednesday, April 30
On Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m., MCDOT will hold a virtual (online) public information meeting to discuss the proposed Brink Road Bridge (No. M-0064) Rehabilitation project in Gaithersburg. The bridge allows a crossing over Great Seneca Creek. MCDOT will present project details, costs, and the project schedule. Public input may influence the final design of the project.
The Brink Road Bridge Rehabilitation project provides for the restoration of the existing bridge, originally constructed in 1936 and reconstructed in 1972, which is in poor condition. MCDOT is working proactively to rehabilitate the bridge before it becomes a safety hazard.
To attend, online register is required by Tuesday, April 22 at 5 p.m.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or by email to the Project Manager, ShyanYung Pan at ShyanYung.Pan@montgomerycountymd.gov by Friday, May 30.
Learn more here.
Provide Feedback on the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Improvements Through Monday, May 26
MCDOT held an in-person public meeting on Tuesday, April 8, to discuss the Phase II improvements to the existing US 29 (Colesville Road/Old Columbia Pike) Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service. Some improvements include the addition of dedicated bus lanes, bus priority at traffic signals and safety enhancements for pedestrian and bicycle connections.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or by email to US29BRT@montgomerycountymd.gov by Monday, May 26.
Learn more here.
Free Senior Travel Training Workshops in April
Older adults 65+ can learn how to use public transportation at free travel training workshops scheduled this month. The workshops, which include a field trip and seminar, offer older adult residents a chance to get to know the County and learn about public transportation options. The seminar includes rides on a Metro train and Ride On bus, and seniors receive hands-on practice loading a fare card, understanding transit schedules and creating an itinerary.
The seminars will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on the following dates:
- Friday, April 11, Benjamin Gaither Center, 80 Bureau Drive, Suite A, Gaithersburg.
- Tuesday, April 22, Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, 13850 Travilah Road, Rockville.
Space is limited and registration is required in advance for the workshop. No walk-ins are allowed. Call Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252 or email connectaride@accessjca.org to learn more and to register. Travel training is provided by the Jewish Council for the Aging with funding from MCDOT.
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Help Fight Back Against Invasive Vines
Montgomery County has long had a problem with invasive vines killing trees. Some of our oldest, strongest trees are at risk of being smothered and strangled by vines. Invasive vines crawl up a tree, talking over the tree's resources and eventually strangling branches until the tree is dead.
There are many active volunteer groups and resident advocates doing good work regularly cutting vines. However, to make a widespread impact we need residents to look out for invasive vines on trees on their private property and take action.
Learn about how to cut invasive vines by watching this video.
To volunteer with local vine cutting groups, such as Tree Friends United, or for more information on vine cutting visit MCDOT’s Vine Program page.
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Participate in Montgomery Planning's Community Planning Academy
The Montgomery County Planning Department is offering the Community Planning Academy to make the planning process more accessible to all residents. Participants will explore the planning and development review process, along with key topics such as zoning, historic preservation, permitting, and more. Participants will also learn how to effectively engage in the process and help guide the development of their neighborhoods.
Space is limited and the deadline for submitting an interest form is Friday, May 9.
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Purple Line Testing of Light Rail Cars to Begin in Maryland
Maryland's Purple Line light rail cars will be tested adjacent to the project’s operations and maintenance facility along Veterans Parkway in Glenridge, Maryland, according to a news release from the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration.
Read the WTOP article here.
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For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter and subscribe to receive the latest MCDOT news.
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