Go Montgomery! August 14, 2019

Ride On Launches Family Friendly Stroller Policy   All bus operators on regular Ride On routes now allow passengers with strollers to use the bus ramp. When the priority seating area of the bus is not occupied, passengers may park a stroller there and allow the child to remain seated. Learn more.   Caring and Alert Ride On Bus Operator Helps Reunite Missing Person With His Family  Ride On bus operators are often called upon to look out for their passengers in unexpected ways. Recently, Ride On Bus Operator Owen Keys noticed an individual still sitting in the back of his bus. After speaking with the passenger, Keys thought he recognized him from a newly released description of a critically missing person. Thanks to Keys’ quick action, Police were able to get the missing individual back to his family.   Purple Line Work Continues at Silver Spring Metro and Bonifant Street   For the next four weeks, expect temporary lane closures on Bonifant Street between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Learn more about the State’s construction activities in and around the Silver Spring Transit Center.  How Should Cars Treat Bike Lanes? When making a right turn, when is it okay for cars to move into a bike lane—and when is it dangerous? Check out this illustrated blog for the skinny on safe right turns. New Parking Rates in Two Bethesda Garages Begin in Mid-August   Beginning August 19, MCDOT will increase parking rates at the Waverly Garage (Garage 47) from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour, and decrease rates at the Metropolitan Garage(Garage 49) from $1.25 to $1.00 per hour. The new rates are intended to encourage parkers to use less crowded garages. Learn more.  Maryland Transportation Authority Seeks Public Comment on Tolling Options  With a toll modernization system coming online next year, the Maryland Transportation Authority is seeking public comment on a package of tolling options that would provide cost savings for customers. Read more.  Keep Up With the Progress on Montgomery County’s First Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line  Construction of the FLASH BRT line on US 29 is well underway. Follow the progress on Twitter with #US29Flash. County Advances Two More Bus Rapid Transit Projects to Next Stage  Two long-awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects on Route 355 and Veirs Mill Road have been advanced to the next stage of engineering. Read more.  Silver Spring Is Getting The Region's First 'Protected Intersection' in Early Fall  Under construction and expected to be completed by early October, Montgomery County’s first protected intersection will be located at Spring Street and Second Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. Part of a largerSecond Avenue bike infrastructure project, the intersection is designed to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. Read more. MCDOT to Feature Transportation Services at September 5 Senior Forum and Resource Fair  Join us to learn about MCDOT’s enhanced mobility and senior services. Learn more.  Maryland Department of Transportation Reduces Speed Limits on Some Roads in Montgomery County  Here's a list of speed reduction routes in the County.  Update on MCDOT’s Crossing Project  Two new Metro entrance elevators are being constructed on the Navy Side of Rockville Pike, along with a connecting passageway from the mezzanine level to new elevators. During weekdays August 12-16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., right lane closures will occur on both the north and south bound lanes of Maryland 355 between South Drive and Woodmont Avenue. Construction has begun inside the Medical Center Metro Station. Read more.  Update on MCDOT’s White Flint Project  White Flint is getting a makeover through new construction and reconstruction of highways and arterial roads, including intersections, that will result in a more walkable, bikeable community. Utility infrastructure relocation and construction continues and is expected to be completed this summer. Read more. MCDOT Attends Commuter Information Day at Washington Adventist Hospital  MCDOT provided transit options and information to Takoma Park hospital employees who will commute to the new White Oak Medical Center opening in Silver Spring on August 25.    MCDOT Celebrates Safe and Sound Week   For MCDOT, providing a safe work environment is job one. MCDOT is proud to support Safe + Sound Week, a campaign of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Running August 12-18, Safe and Sound Week is an annual nationwide event that recognize the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe.     Grammy and Emmy Winner Arturo Sandoval Headlines 16th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival Saturday, August 24   This free event features two stages of afternoon and evening entertainment. New this year, the Jazz Festival is scheduled the weekend before the Labor Day holiday to make it the County’s end-of-the-summer celebration. It will be held from 3 to 10 p.m. in Veterans Plaza located at One Veterans Place. Learn more.  Update on MCDOT’s Wheaton Revitalization Project  The project to build a new Wheaton Town Square, office building and parking garage remains on schedule for May 2020 and is currently 68% complete. Coming up: Grandview Avenue will be closed to traffic on Saturday August 24 and on Saturday, September 7. Follow live project progress by viewing the online camera. Read the most current newsletter.  August 14, 2019 Update on Residential Roadway Resurfacing and Patching Projects Beverly Farms Glen Park Layhill South Mill Creek Potomac Chase Subdivision MCDOT to Observe Labor Day Holiday, Monday, September 2  County Offices are closed Ride On – operates on a Sunday schedule Ride On Flex – closed TRiPS Commuter Store (Silver Spring) – closed TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – closed Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free Metrorail and Metrobus – visit wmata.com MCDOT to Celebrate at MCPS Back-To-School Fair August 24  Join MCDOT in a fun kickoff to the 2019–2020 school year at Westfield Wheaton for free children’s activities, health screenings, giveaways and more.  Learn more.    Get Hands-On with County Vehicles at Clarksburg Outlet   Plan to attend the family friendly Touch-A-Truck Event on Saturday, August 17 from noon to 4 p.m. and meet employees who operate County trucks and Ride On buses. Learn more.  Attend the Montgomery County Fair  Stop by Ride On's booth for information on transit services and giveaways, August 9-17. For more information about the fair, visit mcagfair.com.  Biking Classes for Kids and Adults Coming Up in Montgomery County  Eager to try your hand at navigating traffic? What about getting on a bicycle for the first time? Check out classes offered through MCDOT’s partnership with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Learn more.   Register by 8/23 for the September Walk & Ride Challenge Want to get or stay in shape? Teams in each of our five Transportation Management Districts that take the most steps between September 9 and September 27 are eligible for special prizes. Learn more.  MCDOT Completes Residential Street Sweeping More than 950 tons of debris was collected on over 4,055 miles of residential roads. Street sweeping keeps our storm drains from getting clogged and keeps pollution from our waterways. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

Special Edition * MCDOT DAY & TRUCK SHOW is MAY 11

County Residents Invited to MCDOT Day and Truck Show on May 11 MCDOT invites Montgomery County residents to join us for MCDOT Day and Truck Show on Saturday, May 11, at the Gaithersburg Depot for a day of fun with trucks. Kids of all ages can enjoy demos on a wide range of vehicles, including a claw truck, gradall, bucket truck, dump truck and loader. Rounding out the on-site fleet will be a flusher truck, sidewalk snow removal equipment, skidloader, patch truck, leafing truck, plow truck, salt brine truck, backhoe, line painting truck and Ride On bus. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Gaithersburg. A Message from MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh “We enjoy pulling back the curtain and letting Montgomery County children and their families see all the equipment that we employ to keep you moving and connected. We hope residents will come out to enjoy a day of fun.” In addition to the demos, visitors are invited to play with remote controlled toy trucks, learn about MCDOT operations and collect giveaways. Tour one of the newest Ride On Buses Come climb aboard and see our trucks in action. Ample parking is available at the Gaithersburg depot, which is also reachable by Ride On Route 43 and close to Shady Grove Metro. View Map. View the Truck Show Brochure FRONT END LOADER In winter, front end loaders help us mobilize for roadway salt treatment. SNOW PLOW TRUCK MCDOT clears snow from 5,200 lane miles of County roads, about 50 miles of sidewalks and trails, 295 Ride On bus stops and 500 bus shelters. STREET SWEEPER TRUCK MCDOT cleans over 4,055 lane miles of roads and collects over 750 tons of abrasives and debris that would otherwise wash into storm drains and our waterways. LEAF VACCUUM TRUCK Vacuum trucks collect over 109,114 cubic yards of leaves for composting into Leafgro, a fertilizer sold to local retailers. GRADER PAVING TRUCK MCDOT resurfaces over 178 lane miles of primary, arterial and residential roadways and maintains about 2,000 miles of curbs and gutters. BRINE TRUCK Use of brine trucks to pretreat roads before winter storms helps us reduce our salt use. BUCKET TRUCK MCDOT helps improve the health, diversity and expanse of the County's tree canopy of 350,000 street trees by providing tree trimming/pruning, removal, planting, stump removal and insect and tree disease control.

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

Leaf Vacuum Collection Began November 7 and Continues Through Mid-December

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Division of Highway Services (DHS) began its annual collection of leaves in the vacuum leaf collection district on November 7. DHS provides two collections on every district street during the fall. A third collection may also be provided on an as-needed basis. Read more.

Residential Street Sweeping Begins April 18

Starting April 18, Montgomery County’s residential roadways will get a spring cleaning with the launch of the annual street sweeping program on about 4,000 of the County’s more than 5,000 curb miles of roads. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) removes abrasives and other debris left behind after the winter snow season and improves the appearance and safety of County streets. MCDOT focuses first on roads in sensitive watersheds as identified by the County’s Department of Environmental Protection and, if needed, these streets will receive additional sweepings.

“MCDOT is committed to serving the public in a sustainable way that enhances the County’s environmental quality, and our annual street sweeping program plays a major role in reducing pollutants flowing to the Chesapeake Bay,” said MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh. “Street sweeping not only improves the appearance of our neighborhoods, it also protects the environment by annually keeping about 1,000 tons of salt and other debris out of our storm drains, our stormwater management facilities and our streams.”

Brightly colored signs are posted in neighborhoods a few days before street sweeping begins. To improve the quality of service and the effectiveness of the sweeping program, residents are urged to find alternative parking while their streets are cleaned.

Daily updates detailing which areas are scheduled for street sweeping are available online on the County’s website.

Additional information about the street sweeping program is available on MC311’s website or by calling the Customer Service Line from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by dialing 311 from within the County or 240-777-0311 from outside the County. 

MCDOT and DEP Remind Residents to Keep Leaves out of Storm Drains and Streams

 

With Highway Services’ annual leaf vacuum collection program underway, both MCDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remind residents to help keep leaves out of storm drains.  Leaves washed into storm drains not only block drain inlets, causing street flooding, but also add excessive nutrients to local waterways, significantly degrading water quality and potentially harming fish and wildlife.

Avoid raking leaves into the street; instead, pile them near the edge of the home’s property nearest the road. Crews will collect the leaves that are placed alongside the roadway. And, be assured that storing leaves on the lawn for a short time does not damage it.

In addition to clogging storm drains and impairing water quality, placing leaf piles in the street can cause many problems by:

• Disrupting traffic - Many neighborhoods have narrow streets and on-street parking. Leaf piles extending into the roadway limit parking and the ability of vehicles, especially school buses, to safely negotiate the streets.
• Hampering snow removal operations - Snow covered leaf piles can become extremely heavy and freeze to the roadway surface.
• Creating hazardous and very slippery conditions that could lead to accidents - When leaves get wet, they create a slick surface that makes it difficult for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists to stop, start or change direction.

There are several ways that homeowners can ensure fallen leaves are properly disposed, particularly for those who do not live the leaf vacuum collection area:

• Recycle leaf litter (not recommended for evergreen needles) on the lawn while mowing using either special mulching blades or a mulching lawn mower. Leaves are finely chopped and decompose over time, adding to soil and lawn health.
• Compost leaf litter and provide natural, organic nutrients to amend soils and help build soil structure. Montgomery County provides free composting bins and information on how to compost.
• Take advantage of the County’s weekly curbside yard trim pick-up by placing leaves in special large paper bags or reusable cans labeled with green yard trim stickers. The collected leaves are composted by Montgomery County.

Learn more about recycling leaves and yard trim online.