AAA Reveals Top Driving Distractions for Teens

(From AAA News Room) Over the past five years, more than 5,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period starting at Memorial Day when teen crash deaths historically climb. As the summer driving season begins, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a follow-up study confirming that nearly 60 percent of teen crashes involve distractions behind the wheel. The research also finds a disturbing trend showing that texting and social media use are on the rise among teen drivers. Read more.

Highway Services Continues Road Resurfacing Projects

Fawsett Farms/Dada Woods

Highway Services begins a residential patching project this month in the Fawsett Farms/Dada Woods subdivisions in Potomac. Areas of pavement that need to be replaced will be excavated and filled with hot mix asphalt, extending the life of the pavement by preventing water infiltration. The patched roadways will be resurfaced next fall.  

The project will take about five weeks to complete, weather permitting. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Goldmine Crossing

This month, Highway Services begins a six-to-eight-week project to replace damaged curbs, gutters and sidewalks in the Goldmine Crossing subdivision in Brookeville. Some temporary lane closures and parking restrictions will be required. Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents may be interested in taking advantage of MCDOT’s Driveway Apron and Lead Walk Repair program that allows homeowners to take advantage of the County’s competitively bid rates for repairs. An informational brochure with instructions on how to apply will be left at residents’ doors.

Good Hope Estates and Tivoli in Silver Spring

This month, MCDOT begins two micro-surfacing projects; one in Good Hope Estates and the other in the Tivoli neighborhood. Highway Services will do full depth asphalt patching, seal cracks, apply a micro surfacing material to preserve the pavement and then replace the lane markings.

Both projects will take about six to eight weeks to complete, weather permitting. Work will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Here is a list of other roadway repairs underway.

Ride On Routes 12 and 13 Detoured During Carroll Avenue Bridge Construction

Ride On routes 12 and 13 will follow a detour for about 18 months as the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration rehabilitates the Carroll Avenue Bridge over Sligo Creek in Takoma Park. Buses traveling in both directions will use Flower, Maplewood, Maple and Lincoln avenues to return to their normal routing on Carroll Avenue.

Riders who typically board in the impacted area of Carroll Avenue should instead board at the Flower Avenue stops.


For more information about the work, visit the State's project information page.

County Executive Leggett Announces Latest Phase of Campaign to Reduce Pedestrian Collisions in Parking Lots

 

County Executive Isiah Leggett announced additional efforts in the County’s ongoing campaign to improve pedestrian safety in parking lots.

In 2014, there were 420 reported pedestrian collisions in Montgomery County and 102, or about one in four, occurred in parking lots and garages. In 2015, there were 473 reported pedestrian collisions in Montgomery County; of those, 119 occurred in parking lots and garages. Even though traffic generally is slower in parking lots, in the past two calendar years, one in ten pedestrian collisions in parking lots resulted in incapacitating or disabling injuries. Read more.

See MyMCMedia video.

Safety reminders like this one in a parking lot in Wheaton will be popping up at lots across Montgomery County. After a surge in pedestrian collisions in parking lots last year, county officials are urging drivers and pedestrians a like to be more aware of their surroundings when navigating through parking lots. (WTOP)

Portion of the Woodmont/Rugby Garage Now Closed

A portion of the Woodmont-Rugby Garage (Garage 35) in Bethesda has been permanently closed to the public for construction of the 2^nd District Police Station, eliminating 119 parking spaces. In addition, the entrance/exit on Rugby Avenue is also closed.

To assist parkers and local businesses, MCDOT has increased short-term parking in the garage. Long term parkers have been relocated to other parking facilities in the Woodmont Triangle area, including the Auburn-Del Ray (Garage 36), which has plentiful long-term spaces available.

Rendering of the new 2nd District Police Station planned for Rugby Avenue in Bethesda.

Demand-Based Pricing Begins in Three Bethesda Garages

Beginning this month, Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Division of Parking Management began demand-based pricing at three Bethesda parking garages. The parking rate at the Metropolitan Garage (Garage 49), the Cordell/St. Elmo Garage (Garage 40) and the Bethesda/Elm Garage (Garage 57) was set at $1/hour. Prices at less popular garages within blocks remain at $.80/hour.

Demand-based pricing at County-owned parking facilities encourages customers to use less popular parking options by making them less expensive. Parking began using this technique in 2013, charging the most for on-street parking meters, less for surface parking lots and the lowest for parking garages. Parking will monitor the success of expanding the use of this pricing mechanism.

Go Montgomery - June 16, 2016

Roshdieh Participated in Regional Panel on SafeTrack Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Al Roshdieh was a panel member at a regional Safe Track event sponsored by the Greater Washington Board of Trade where he discussed measures Montgomery County is taking to help travelers during SafeTrack. Read more. Roshdieh to be Featured Speaker at Third Great Montgomery Bike Summit to be Held June 18 Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Al Roshdieh and MCDOT Transportation Engineering staff will be presenters at the third Great Montgomery Bike Summit on June 18. Read more. MCDOT’s Commuter Services to Hold Free Telework Webinars to Help Employers During SafeTrack Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Commuter Services has scheduled two Telework webinars for June 23 and 28 to help employers quickly set up a telework program. during SafeTrack. Read more. Ride On Wants to Know How Metro’s Safetrack Will Affect Your Commute Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service is planning free shuttles and other service changes during SafeTrack -- Metro’s safety repair blitz. To better target service enhancements, Ride On wants to know more about how SafeTrack will affect you. Take this five-question survey. MCDOT Completes Chapman Avenue Extension; Project Designed to Relieve Congestion and Promote Safety in White Flint Area The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Division of Transportation Engineering has completed a project to extend Chapman Avenue, from Randolph Road to Old Georgetown Road, and it is now open to traffic. Read more. Ride On’s Will Kenlaw Selected for TAM Board Leadership Position Use picture of Will Will Kenlaw, marketing, advertising and customer service program manager for Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Ride On, was selected to serve as an at-large member on the Transportation Association of Maryland (TAM) Board at its annual membership meeting in May. Read more. Winners of New Bike at White Flint Bike to Work Day Have Participated Since 2002 Bike to Work Day participants since 2002, the Woitach family, were thrilled to learn that they had won a free "fold up bike" at White Flint’s Bike to Work Day this year. Read more. County Website Offers Information for Older Drivers Montgomery County has a new website for older residents and their families that provides information about driving safely and alternate transportation options that are available to seniors who prefer to limit or stop driving.  Learn more at: Explore Older Driver Resources. County Executive Summit on Aging Report Now Available In December 2015, County Executive Ike Leggett held a second Summit on Aging to review the accomplishments and progress made since the first Summit in 2008.  Read more. SHA to Begin Bethesda Trolley Trail Improvement Project The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has awarded a contract to construct a 10-foot-wide, shared use, hiker-biker path along Old Georgetown Road (MD 187) that will connect with the Bethesda Trolley Trail section north of McKinley Street. Read more. SHA to Begin Resurfacing Project on Beltway and Seminary Road Overpass Beginning in mid-June, the State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a year-long resurfacing project on a six-mile stretch of the inner loop of the Capital Beltway, between I-270 and the Seminary Road overpass just west of Georgia Avenue. Read more. JUNE 16, 2016 Check Out This Video of MCDOT at Bike to Work Day MCDOT's Commuter Services hosted several pit stops at this year's Bike to Work Day.  This fun, two-minute video recaps some of the highlights: Watch here.  **REMINDER** Landscape Contest Deadline Extended to June 17  For more information click here. Highway Services Begins Repair and Replacement Project in College View In June, the Division of Highway Services (DHS) begins a six to eight-week project to repair and/or replace curbs, gutters and sidewalks in the College View neighborhood in Kensington. Read more. Highway Services to Close Portion of Wildcat Road for Three-Month Project This month, the Division of Highway Services will begin a project to replace four, failing, storm drain culverts. Read more. Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.