MCDOT's Go Montgomery! Transportation-Related Newsletter - Thursday, May 19, 2022

 

Montgomery County’s Celebration of ‘Public Works Week’ Will Include Truck Day Event on Saturday, May 21 “Public Works Week” is a national week in May to honor essential workers. In recognition of MCDOT employees in the Division of Highway Services, a social media campaign is underway highlighting the essential work they do. The week will conclude with a free, family-friendly Truck Day event on Saturday, May 21, that will allow the public to tour and sit in County-owned vehicles. TRUCK DAY Saturday, May 21 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Gaithersburg Depot  17000 Crabbs Branch Way “Public Works employees provide vital services for our residents,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “These essential workers keep residents safe and are always ready to respond. I am very thankful for the amazing job these men and women do—keeping our infrastructure safe through storm and flood response and right-of-way management. They help make Montgomery County a great place to live.” MCDOT Highway Services employees provide and sustain essential services that improve the County’s quality of life. Those services include clearing trees in roadways, snow removal, flood response, storm management, assist with national disasters as well as seasonal services like street cleaning and leaf collection. Residents can show their support by following and liking @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #PublicWorksWeek. Click below to meet MCDOT Highway Services Supervisor Robert as he explains what his job entails.  MCDOT Sponsors Six Pit Stops During 'Bike to Work' Day on Friday, May 20 National Bike to Work Day will be held tomorrow morning, Friday, May 20, and Montgomery County intends to be fully involved once again.  The event is held across the nation on the third Friday of May to celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. Bike riders in Montgomery County can stop by one of the six pit stops sponsored by MCDOT for refreshments, to listen to music, and visit local vendor displays during varying times on May 20. MCDOT’s pitstops will all begin at 6:30 a.m. and run until either 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. There will be free raffle prizes throughout the morning and two new bikes will be raffled off as grand prizes at each MCDOT-sponsored pit stop. Participants should visit the Find Your Pit Stop Map to plan a route in advance. MCDOT-sponsored pit stops will be at the following locations: Downtown Bethesda at Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues Friendship Heights at the Shops at Wisconsin Place North Bethesda at Pike and Rose, next to Bark Social Rockville at Fallsgrove Village Center Rockville Town Square at Dawson’s Market Silver Spring Downtown at Veterans Plaza Additional pit stops will be hosted by other organizations throughout the County. Teleworkers and leisure riders are encouraged to participate. Learn more here. MCDOT Encourages Residents to Vote for the 'Paint the Plow' Snowplow Naming Contest at Truck Day on Saturday, May 21 MCDOT is hosting its first ‘Paint the Plow’ middle school snowplow naming contest. Teams from 14 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) middle schools participated in the contest. Snowplows and paint supplies were delivered by MCDOT to each school and the student teams had four days to name and decorate their snowplows. The decorated plows will be part of the MCDOT fleet that will be clearing snow from streets this winter. On Saturday, May 21 the painted snowplows will be parked at MCDOT's Gaithersburg Depot for judging during MCDOT's free Truck Day event at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way, Gaithersburg. Residents are encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite snowplow between10 a.m. to 3 p.m. First, second and third place winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m., for a chance to win cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100. The painted snowplows will also be put into service this winter. Photos will be displayed on MCDOT’s website and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Participating Middle Schools include: Sligo Redland, Hallie Wells, Parkland Magnet, William H. Farquhar, John Poole. White Oak, Kingsview, Odessa Shannon, Pyle, Rosa Parks, Shady Grove and Roberto Clemente. The contest was a unique and fun way to introduce students to some of the work done by MCDOT. Elementary and Middle School Students are Invited to Participate in Free Virtual 'Safety Week' Through Saturday, May 21 MCDOT's Safe Routes to Schools program and Montgomery County Public Schools host this annual “Virtual Safety Week” to promote safety while walking, biking, riding in a car and taking public transportation through various online interactive and creative activities, video demonstrations, raffles and giveaways. Students and their families are encouraged to participate in the virtual activities each day and submit a photo demonstrating their participation online here for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. MCDOT will share selected images from social media that include the hashtag #MoCoSafetyWeek. Virtual Safety Week is part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero initiative to end traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030. MCDOT Bicycle Swag Bag Contest Continues Through May 28 MCDOT is promoting this Friday's Bike To Work Day with the ‘Bicycle Swag Bag’ contest. This week, bike riders are encouraged to take a photo or selfie of themselves enjoying their favorite bike path, trail, or bike lane in Montgomery County. Tag your photo with @MCDOTNow along with  the hashtag #MoCoBikes on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, or e-mail the photo to MCDOT Commuter Services to be entered into a weekly prize drawing for a Swag Bag prize. Winners are announced and notified on social media and by email on Monday of the following week. Learn more here. Public Invited to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) / Flash Bus Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) Virtual Meetings MCDOT staff will provide updates on the ongoing analysis and review upcoming outreach efforts for each BRT location below: North Bethesda BRT will be Held on Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Online registration is required to attend and a recording of the meeting as well as presentation materials will be available on the project website.  MD 355 BRT will be Held on Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m. Since the last meeting in February, MCDOT has been busy advancing the preliminary design from Grosvenor Metrorail Station to the Milestone Park and Ride in Germantown. 25% of the plans have been completed and will be presented to the public via a series of pop-up events around the project area and virtual chats in late May and June. Online registration is required to attend and a recording of the meeting as well as presentation materials will be available on the project website. New Hampshire Avenue BRT will be Held on Thursday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Online registration is required to attend and a recording of the meeting as well as presentation materials will be available on the project website. MCDOT Holds Public Forum on New Proposed Bus Route in Silver Spring on June 2 MCDOT will hold a virtual public forum on Thursday, June 2, starting at 6:30 p.m., to discuss a new bus route that will provide service between Hillandale Transit Center/Tech Road Park and Ride lot and US 29, with a stop at the Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center. The proposed route will have stops along Powder Mill Road, Cherry Hill Road, Plum Orchard Drive, Broadbirch Drive, Tech Road, and the Tech Road Park and Ride lot and provide connections with Metrobus, Ride On, and Flash bus routes as well as other transportation services within the network. For additional information on the new route and to join the meeting click here. Community Invited to the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Placemaking Festival Virtual Kickoff Meeting on Wednesday, June 1 at 6 p.m. The Montgomery County Planning Department and nonprofit Better Block Foundation invite residents and business owners to collaborate on a special placemaking initiative to demonstrate the goals of the ongoing Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan at a virtual kickoff meeting to discuss the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Placemaking Festival scheduled for this fall. During this kickoff event, community members will be asked for ideas and feedback on how to temporarily transform the Briggs Chaney Park and Ride (3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904) area into a fun and inviting place for residents to visit. Online registration is required to attend. Requests for accessibility or translation accommodations for the meeting are due by Monday, May 23. Community Meetings Announced as Purple Line Work Continues With the recent selection of a new contractor and construction activities of the Purple Line continuing, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), which manages the project, will be hosting a number of in-person community meetings in Montgomery County. The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail line that will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George's County. It will provide a direct connection to the Metrorail Red, Green and Orange Lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak, and local bus services. The Purple Line has a planned completion date of 2026. Please see the list of community meetings, both open houses and Community Advisory Meetings (CATs) the state has set up to give Montgomery County residents updates on the Purple Line on the project’s website at purplelinemd.com/upcoming-meetings. These meetings are open to the public, and questions are permitted during the Question-and-Answer portion of the meeting. At these meetings, MDOT MTA will introduce the community to their new design-build contractor, Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS) and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and hear updates on: Construction activities in your area. The maintenance of traffic during construction including any upcoming detours (if applicable) Upcoming Meetings: Montgomery County Open House Wednesday, May 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Building 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Bethesda/Chevy Chase (CAT) Tuesday, June 7 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. North Chevy Chase Elementary School 3700 Jones Bridge Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Greater Lyttonsville/Woodside (CAT) Tuesday, June 14 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rosemary Hills Elementary School 2111 Porter Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 Silver Spring (CAT) Tuesday, June 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Silver Spring International Middle School 313 Wayne Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 Long Branch (CAT) Tuesday, June 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oak View Elementary School 400 East Wayne Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20901 The Purple Line Outreach team is returning to in-person meetings to engage in meaningful dialogue about the project. Specific questions a community would like to have addressed should be sent to MDOT MTA’s Outreach Team 10 days in advance of the meeting date. Contact the Purple Line Outreach Team at 443-451-3706 or via email at outreach@purplelinemd.com. Learn more about the state-managed, Purple Line project here. METRO NEWS Weekend Service Adjustments for Saturday, May 21 through Sunday, May 22 Learn more here. Metro Ridership Projections Trending Ahead of Forecast Metro ridership is outpacing projections through the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022 by nearly 40 percent. Through March, ridership has exceeded the initial forecast by 28 million passenger trips as more people chose bus and rail for travel throughout the region. Metrobus leads the way, accounting for 60 percent of overall Metro ridership, compared to about 40 percent for rail. Learn more here. WMATA is Considering Making Some Railcars Mask-Only WMATA is considering designating some railcars as mask-only, after making face coverings optional on all its services in April. Learn more here. Metrobus Service Changes Go In Effect on Sunday, May 29 The White Flint Station buses will serve the stop along northbound Rockville Pike north of (farside) Marinelli Road adjacent to the station entrance. Learn more here. New Interactive EV Charging Station Map Available  Data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center is powering a new interactive map. Users can click on each state or select an interstate route for EV charging stations that include some in Bethesda, Silver Spring and along I270 and MD 355. A pop-up window displays metrics like state population, total electric vehicles, EVs per 1,000 people, the number of charging stations and charging stations per EV. Clicking on an individual charging station also displays details such as the date it was installed and its operating hours. For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit  montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to receive MCDOT news in your email inbox or mobile phone. Thursday, May 19, 2022 MCDOT is Combining Social Media Accounts Follow us @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Transportation-Related Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day, May 30 County offices - Closed. Ride On - Operates on a Sunday schedule using the new schedules that went into effect on May 8. Ride On extRa and Flex - Not in service. Ride On Flash - Only Orange Line operates on a weekend schedule. TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center - Open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store - Closed. Parking at Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton Public Garages, Lots and Curbside Meters - Free. View additional closures here. ‘Do Your Part’: Five Safe Driving Tips for Memorial Day Weekend  One of the most dangerous driving weekends of the year is approaching. MCDOT urges residents to drive safely this holiday weekend and offers these five tips for safe road travel: Prepare before you go. Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. Check air, recalls, etc. Drive distraction-free. Thousands of people have died in crashes involving cellphone use. Slow down. Speeding is a factor in more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities.  Designate a sober driver. Drunk driving is a problem on our nation’s roads every day, but it’s more prevalent during the holidays. Buckle up. It's one of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make. The national seat belt use rate was at 90.4% in 2021.  Capital Bikeshare System FREE for Non-Members on Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20 Enjoy free unlimited rides (up to 45 mins per trip) on standard bikes, all day. E-bikes will be offered at only $0.10 cents per minute, plus no unlock fee. MCDOT Ride On’s Annual Food Drive Will Run Through Sunday, May 22 MCDOT is hosting the annual Ride On food drive in partnership with Manna Food Center, County libraries and Regional Service Centers to help those who are in need. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off on all Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses, all Regional Service Centers, Manna Centers and selected libraries. View a list of locations here. Click here to watch a video on what to donate. MCDOT Announces Winners of the Pedestrian Safety Art Contest The art contest was open to Elementary School students to raise awareness around pedestrian safety. MCDOT chose 7 winners out of 500 art submissions with a surprise visit on Thursday, May 12 from Zeal the Safety Zebra who presented gift cards to each winner.  View the list of winners and their art entries online here. County Council Gives Preliminary Approval to Extension of Free Ride On Bus Fare As Montgomery County officials consider the future of bus fares on the county’s Ride On system, the County Council gave preliminary approval to extend free fare through at least June 2023. Read the Bethesda Magazine article here. MCDOT’s Bike Match Program Receives 23 New Bikes Thanks to Robb Hampton of Kids On Bikes for connecting MCDOT with Jocelyn Leatherwood, SVP, and the employees of Exponent Health in Gaithersburg, for their donation of bicycles to the Bike Match Program. The Bike Match program was created during the COVID-19 health crisis and works by connecting people who have a bike to donate to people in need of a bike for transportation. The program has delivered bikes to more than 226 families who have applied to the program. If you have a bike in good working condition, that you would like to donate, learn more here. Learn About Pedestrian Safety at Westfield Wheaton Mall on Sunday, May 22 MCDOT's pedestrian safety team will be at Westfield Wheaton Mall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to distribute safety educational materials and reflective gear to shoppers. Also, take a shot at the prize wheel for a chance to win prizes. The “Lives Shatter on Impact” testimonial exhibit will also be on display across from the Macy’s entrance and in front of the T-Mobile store, on the second floor. The exhibit shares heart-felt testimonials from area residents whose lives have changed when they or their loved ones have been struck by drivers and includes an educational wall with written stories and photographs. The exhibit is a part of the ongoing Street Smart campaign, focused on reducing injuries and deaths of people walking and biking.  MCDOT Hosts Free E-Scooter Classes in June Residents age 18+ can drop by anytime between 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. to take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws. No registration is required, although participants must have a valid driver’s license or ID.  Saturday, June 4 @ Wheaton Ice Arena Saturday, June 11 @ Montgomery College Rockville Campus For details, view the flyer here. So You Want to Buy a Bike? For Montgomery County residents looking to buy a new bike, there are plenty of independent shops to choose from. We highlight seven and detail what you should know before you walk through their doors. Read the Bethesda Magazine article here. Phones Are the Leading Cause of Distracted Driving in Crashes With Injuries Of the 302 serious injuries in distracted driving crashes during 2020, a little over a third (205) injuries involved drivers on their phones just before crashing. The remaining 32.2 percent involved drivers distracted by their passengers. Read the Transportation Today article here. To report down trees, sidewalk or curb damage, streetlight outages, pot holes, foliage obstruction and more, call 311 or report it online at  montgomerycountymd.gov/ 311. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

Go Montgomery! Newsletter April 30, 2020

Message From MCDOT Director Chris Conklin Concerning the COVID-19-Related Death of MCDOT Employee Michael Miller:  Our MCDOT family is profoundly saddened by the death from COVID-19 of our Transit Services Division employee Michael Miller. He was a committed member of the Ride On family who, since 2011, worked hard every day to make sure buses left the depot in good condition and on time to serve the residents of Montgomery County. Mr. Miller is survived by his wife Donna and their children, and MCDOT extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones.   Mr. Miller was particularly appreciated for his infectious smile and caring personality, his dedication to his fellow co-workers and his job duties, as well as his willingness to go above and beyond at any moment to get the job done. He truly will be missed. Mr. Miller made our Silver Spring/Bethesda Depot a better place to work, and the MCDOT team is mourning the loss of a great friend and colleague.     To honor Mr. Miller's Memory, Ride On staff will be wearing black armbands.  In this time of uncertainty, I also want to thank all of our MCDOT employees for their dedication and commitment to serving the public and ensuring that we continue to provide essential services. You are our everyday heroes – ordinary people doing their jobs to ensure that the public’s health, safety and basic needs are being met. We appreciate all that you do – and we mourn the loss of one of our own who served our County so well. Please Bring a Face Covering for Essential Travel on Ride On MCDOT strongly encourages Ride On passengers to come prepared with a personal face covering—which may include a cloth mask, bandana, or scarf—and use it to cover your mouth and nose before boarding the bus. Buses will have a limited supply of face coverings on board for passengers who cannot provide their own. Bus service is being provided for essential travel only, and passenger numbers on each bus will be limited to allow for safe social distancing. Learn more. Starting Saturday, May 2, Bus Stop Locations Return to Inside the Silver Spring Transit Center On May 2, Ride On and Metrobus bus stops will return to their original locations inside the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in downtown Silver Spring. The bus stops were temporarily moved during construction of the Purple Line and Capital Crescent Trail. Learn more.   MCDOT Initiates New Program Using Taxis to Provide Contactless Delivery Services MCDOT has partnered with local taxi companies on a new program for Call-n-Ride participants allowing them to use their transportation credits to pay participating taxicab companies for delivery of essential goods from grocery stores, food banks and restaurants during the COVID-19 health crisis. Taxis are also available for delivery needs for the general public using standard meter rates. Learn more. Bikeshare and Lyft E-Scooters Free For Essential Workers   The Capital Bikeshare and Lyft Electric Scooters have extended their essential worker program to at least May 31. The programs give essential employers and workers, including those in the healthcare, food service, and food retailer industries, free, unlimited, 30-day Bikeshare and Lyft e-scooter memberships allowing access to unlimited, 30-minute bike trips and e-scooter trips. Contact herobikes@Lyft.com. Learn more. MCDOT Holds Successful Virtual Public Hearing  MCDOT is finding creative ways to move important infrastructure projects forward while still meeting requirements for public input and social distancing. Staff held a virtual public hearing concerning proposed sidewalk construction in the Kemp Mill Estates community in Silver Spring that was highly successful and will serve as a model for additional public engagement opportunities. Learn more.  MCDOT Wins Grant to Improve Safety for Visually Impaired   MCDOT has won a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Transportation Planning Board to enhance safety for blind and low vision pedestrians who travel to and from transit in the County's urban areas. The study recommendations will support the County’s commitment to Vision Zero and the importance of protecting all pedestrians. Learn more.  Public Can Provide Input on Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail Parking Reduction Until May 1   County residents are urged to provide input on a joint development proposal at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail Station that may reduce available customer parking by almost 200 spaces. Written comments can still be submitted through May 1 at 5 p.m. More details about the project and the public hearing presentation can be found here.  Transportation Resources for Adults Over 50 and Persons With Disabilities MCDOT has partnered with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services to compile information about transportation resources for adults over 50 and persons with disabilities the current health crisis for people who are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The County is working to develop guidelines for transportation resources for individuals who must travel to receive testing or medical care. Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Transit/seniors.html. Purple Line Update The first complete Purple Line Light Rail Vehicle is 60% through testing in Elmira, NY and will head to the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility for local testing in late 2020.  Long-Term Closure Planned for Bonifant Street in Silver Spring  Closure begins May 11 along Bonifant Street (West) and will continue through the end of Purple Line construction. Pedestrians are urged to obey signage and stay clear of the work zone during this time. The detour can be viewed at plmdnews.com/hie.  Maryland's Roadmap to Recovery The “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery” has been developed based on the recovery plans issued by the federal government, the National Governors Association, and premier institutions like Johns Hopkins and the American Enterprise Institute; shaped by the expert advice of the scientists and public health officials on Maryland’s Coronavirus Response Team; and tailored to our situation here in Maryland. The result is a responsible, gradual, safe path forward for our state.  Hogan Announces Plan to Reopen Maryland's Economy  At a press conference, Governor Larry Hogan said the state's economy could begin to reopen early next month when the number of daily COVID-19 cases stops increasing and there is a fall in the number of patients hospitalized and admitted to intensive care units. The reopening will happen in three stages: Stage 1.  Lifting the stay-at-home order; reopening of some small businesses, retail shops, golf courses, other recreational activities and some local governments; and resumption of outdoor religious gatherings. Elective outpatient surgeries in certain counties might be able to resume. Stage 2.  Reopening of more businesses; nonessential workers could return to work; some restaurants and bars could reopen on a case-by-case basis; crowd size limits on social gatherings could increase; and indoor religious gatherings could resume. Stage 3.  Larger social gatherings and reopening of entertainment venues allowed and the lifting of restrictions at hospitals and nursing homes. Follow MCDOT on all social media at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot/social-media.html Get Transportation updates during COVID-19 at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT/covid19.html Get the latest updates in Montgomery County on COVID-19 at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19 April 30, 2020 Subscribe to receive MCDOT NEWS releases. Join Us for Virtual Safety Week MAY 4 - 8  MCDOT’s “Safe Routes to School” program and Montgomery County Public Schools will host a Virtual Safety Week May 4-8 for elementary and middle school students and their families. The weeklong event will offer activities and learning opportunities that can be done at home to learn about safe travel habits that align with the County’s Vision Zero Initiative to reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways. Participating kids will have the opportunity to earn prizes. Learn more at montgomerycountymd.gov/ safetyweek Work With Us! MCDOT is Hiring Go to MCG Careers to learn more about: Traffic and Engineering Operations Senior Engineering Public Service Worker Engineer Technician II/I Transportation Systems Technician I/II/III Parking Management Public Service Craftsworker I Transportation Contract Compliance Inspector II Face Covering Requirements Expanded To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Governor Hogan has required face coverings to be worn at all food establishments; on public transportation, including buses, ride-sharing, and taxi services; at all retail establishments (including MCDOT’s Silver Spring TRiPS Store) and at laundromats. Learn more. MCDOT Teleworking Webinars Now Available Online Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, many employers had to quickly implement telework programs – with little or no preparation. To assist them and their employees, MCDOT hosted two webinars featuring telework experts offering advice and answering questions. View webinars now. MCDOT Celebrates Earth Month   Earth Month celebrations have  been limited by COVID-19 disruptions, but we can still enjoy the outdoors and do our part while social distancing. Become a MCDOT Adopt A Road volunteer who pledges to keep roadsides litter free by removing pollutants before they clog storm drains or reach local streams that flow into the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and our water supply.  Parkway Road Closures for Weekend Recreation Montgomery Parks is expanding its initiative to provide more space to walk, jog and bike during COVID-19's social distancing requirements. Parts of Beach Drive, Little Falls Parkway, and Sligo Creek Parkway are closed to vehicles every weekend from Friday at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 6 p.m. Learn more. Have questions or need assistance within Montgomery County? Call 311 or visit:  montgomerycountymd.gov/311

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