Go Montgomery! October 2, 2019

MCDOT Celebrates Walk to School Day at Arcola ES MCDOT has once again organized a focus event for National Walk to School Day to encourage everyone in the school community to walk, bike or roll to school. The event focuses on pedestrian and bike safety and supports the County’s commitment to Vision Zero to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on its roads. Learn more. Next Week MCDOT to Open First Protected Intersection in the Mid-Atlantic County Executive Marc Elrich will join MCDOT and other County officials on Monday, October 7 to celebrate the opening of the County’s first protected intersection at Second Avenue and Spring Street in Silver Spring. The intersection is part of a new, one-half mile bike lane that connects to the Spring and Cedar streets bike lanes, creating 1.2 miles of separated lanes in the heart of downtown Silver Spring and connecting to Metro and the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center. Innovative features also include the County’s first bike traffic signal. See project progress. Ride On Announces Long-Term Bus Route Modifications Ride On regularly assesses the need for service improvements and adjustments and makes changes when needed.  Due to construction activities, Routes 7, 8, 9, 18, 31, 39, 73, 79 and 129 have been modified to address long-term detours. Read more. Davis Mill Road Now Open to Traffic Pending Repairs After a two-week closure between two intersections with Wildcat Road, Davis Mill Road in Germantown has partially re-opened to traffic. This bypass will remain in effect until the road can be repaired. MCDOT continues to work on a permanent design solution for this stretch of Davis Mill Road.  Learn more. First in the Nation All-Electric Service Station Opens in Takoma Park A service station for electric vehicles became the country’s first fully converted gas-to-electric refueling station. Read more in Transportation Today. (Photo by Bill O’Leary) Montgomery County Celebrates Active Aging Week October 1-7 Dozens of free activities are planned to celebrate Montgomery County's Active Aging Week. MCDOT supports senior transportation in many ways. Seniors (age 65 and older) can travel free or at a discount on Metrobus, Metrorail and Ride On by purchasing a Senior SmarTrip® card at MCDOT’s Mobile Commuter store, all County libraries, the Silver Spring TRIPs store or the Montgomery County Division of Treasury - Rockville. Learn about other transportation services offered to seniors. What to do with E-Scooters Found on County Sidewalks MCDOT’s agreement with e-bike and e-scooter companies states that these vehicles cannot be parked in the right-of-way and cannot interfere with pedestrian or traffic operations, or access to driveways,  crosswalks, ADA ramps, pedestrian walkways, bus stops, fire hydrants, private property or businesses. Residents are free to move inappropriately parked vehicles out of the way. Or, contact the vendor directly (labels with a phone and website are on each vehicle) or call County 311. MCDOT Sponsored Fourth Annual PARK(ing) Day Celebration in Silver Spring and Bethesda Beautiful spaces bloomed under the Montgomery County sun. Check out photos of the fun parks that were created.  MCDOT Seeks Innovators for MD 355 FLASH Learn about MCDOT’s Request for Information from firms that can help support cost-effective Bus Rapid Transit on MD Route 355 in Montgomery County. New Maryland Laws Became Effective October 1 Hundreds of new laws took effect including a pedestrian safety bill that increases the maximum fine for drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians from $500 to $1,000 and a bill that increases the severity of penalties for drunk and drugged driving offenses. Learn more about these and many of the other new laws. Bethesda Residents Asked to Take MCDOT Transportation Survey MCDOT is conducting a five-minute survey of Bethesda-area residents who live in multi-family dwellings that will help the department improve transportation services. Take the survey and enter a drawing for a $25 gift card.  MCDOT Attends Spread the Green Expo MCDOT’s Commuter Services helped provide information on some of its green initiatives at the Spread the Green Expo, an event for County employees who wanted to learn more about County efforts to green operations and improve sustainability. Among the programs promoted by Commuter Services were the October 18 Bike Drive; Guaranteed Ride Home and Ride Share programs; Bikeshare; and other transit options to support commuters.  Elrich to Hold First of Five FY21 Operating Budget Forums on October 7 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding the first of five budget forums to seek input from residents about Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget priorities. Learn more. Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department's Open House Oct. 13 MCDOT is pulling out all the stops with the Street Smart Virtual Reality Challenge at this year's Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department's open house in Silver Spring. WABA will be on site giving safe bicycling instructions and look for the shiny Camaro with the virtual reality challenge, an interactive, virtual reality experience that lets participants encounter multiple traffic scenarios and learn ways to reduce injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. Celebrating October as ‘Energy Action Month’ Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection will spend more than four weeks spreading its messages to help protect the environment and lower energy costs in October for Energy Action Month. Attend one of the Energy Roadshows that help answer all types of question on how to lower energy usage and save money. Learn more. October 2, 2019 On October 18, Celebrate Community Service Month Bike Drive with MCDOT Have a bike that’s no longer needed? On Friday, October 18, MCDOT will once again sponsor a bike collection during this year’s Community Service month celebration. Donate child and adult bicycles, helmets and bicycle parts to low income families outside the Council Office Building parking garage in Rockville. Learn more. MCDOT Sponsors Adult Learn to Ride Cycle Class on October 5 If you’re feeling less than confident about hopping on a bike, this class is for you!  MCDOT and WABA have teamed up to offer adult classes this fall for all skill levels. The cost is $10 per person and free to Capital Bikeshare and WABA members. Resister for the October 5 class in Chevy Chase today. Leadership Montgomery Uses Ride On to Tour Agriculture Reserve The County’s Office of Agriculture and MCDOT have been partnering to provide educational tours of the County’s Agriculture Reserve. In September, Leadership Montgomery members visited the Agriculture History Farm Park and three local farms to experience the importance and beauty of agriculture in Montgomery County. MCDOT Spreads the Word on Kids Ride Free The MCDOT Ride On team attended the Montgomery County Council of PTA Presidents fall training session September 14, to provide information about the Kids Ride Free program. All K-12 student residents can ride free any time of day and any day of the week on Ride On buses or Metrobus in Montgomery County by showing a school ID or Youth Cruiser SmarTrip card to the bus operator. MCDOT Promotes Alternative Transportation on Car Free Day On September 22, MCDOT staff took to the streets to encourage County residents to leave their car at home on Sunday. Ride On Shuttle Links Montgomery Friendship Picnic and Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival On Sunday, September 22, Ride On provided shuttle service between two popular County events. Ride On regularly supports events that promote a stronger and more connected community. Wheaton Revitalization Update Reedie Drive will be one-way westbound between Georgia Avenue and Grandview Avenue for 12 weeks. The MCDOT project to build a new Town Center, office building for County agencies and departments and underground parking garage is about 75 percent complete. Learn more about the project at www.wheatonproject.com

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

Go Montgomery! September 13, 2019

MCDOT Briefs Residents at Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Meetings This fall, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and team are hitting the road to talk with County residents about all things transportation. Learn more. MCDOT Celebrates New Wheaton Library with 84th Bikeshare Station, Flex Shuttle and Outreach MCDOT shared in the community excitement over the grand opening of the new Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center on Sunday with the installation of a new 15-dock Capital Bikeshare station, while participants riding the Flex shuttle from a nearby garage learned about this new on-demand transit option. Learn more. Ride On Participates in the Pack the Packs School Supply Drive On August 29, Ride On transported backpacks filled with donated supplies from the Pack the Packs School Supply Drive to over 300 under privileged students at the Daly Elementary School in Germantown. Ride On answered questions from parents and gave kids a chance to tour a new Ride On bus. Ride On Announces Schedule Changes Effective September 15 Ride On will implement several changes to bus routes beginning Sunday including Routes 26, 38 and 59 among others. Learn more. MCDOT Thanks Students Who Attended Back to School Fair Our thanks to the hundreds of students who stopped by our table at the MCPS Back-to-School Fair on August 24 to learn about the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip card and the Kids Ride FREE program. Get your card by September 30 to ride free!  Visit any County library, the Silver Spring TRiPS store, Mobile Commuter store, participating schools or online.  Bethesda Parking Facilities Get Convenient New Payment System Starting next week, say hello to new payment options at several Bethesda parking facilities. Learn more. MCDOT Schedules Semi-Annual Fall Cleaning of County Parking Garages The Division of Parking Management will soon begin its semi-annual interior washdown of all 21 County-owned parking garages in Silver Spring, Bethesda and Wheaton. The washings will occur on nights and weekends in September and October.  MCDOT to Hold Public Hearing for Proposed Lyttonsville Sidewalk Construction Next Month MCDOT invites the public to attend a public hearing on October 2 at 7 p.m. to provide comments concerning construction of a sidewalk that provides disabled citizens, pedestrians and bicyclists safer travel to schools and nearby public attractions or facilities in the Lyttonsville community. Learn more. Ride On to Hold Annual Bus Roadeo Saturday, September 14 Ride On bus system will hold its annual bus “Roadeo” where bus operators compete to demonstrate their driving skills. The winner of the competition will go on to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Bus Roadeo held next May in San Antonio. Last year’s Ride On winner, Guillermo Vasquez, placed 55 out of 200 participants in the International competition. Learn more. MCDOT Celebrates PARK(ing) Day September 20  Take time to check out the fun “parks” that will be set up in honor of PARK(ing) Day in Silver Spring and Bethesda!  Celebrate this International holiday that encourages artists, planners, businesses, organizations, groups and individuals to participate by temporarily transforming a metered parking space into a fun, park-like spot. See what other cities have done. School is in Session: Maryland Law Requires Vehicles to Stop for School Buses As the new school year begins, be aware that Maryland Law requires drivers to stop, and remain stopped, for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an activated stop arm. Learn more about school bus safety and share the Understanding the School Bus Law information flyer with friends and family. Temporary Traffic Changes on Rockville Pike September 16-20 The MD 355 Crossing (BRAC) project is located in Bethesda, Maryland, a densely populated and developed area inside the Capital Beltway (I-495), and adjacent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The focus of the project is on the intersection of MD 355/ Rockville Pike and South Wood Road/South Drive. Expect the following closures/changes. md355crossing.com Bethesda & Medical Center Metro Station Closures this Weekend These Metro stations will close Saturday and Sunday for leak repairs in the tunnel. Red Line trains will run between Shady Grove & Grosvenor and Friendship Heights & Glenmont, according to WMATA. Free shuttle buses will replace trains at Grosvenor, Medical Center, Bethesda and Friendship Heights. Learn more. Purple Line Work in Silver Spring During September Expect temporary lane and sidewalk closures during weekdays and weekends on Wayne Avenue and on Bonifant Street while crews relocate utilities. The right-hand southbound lane of Colesville Road is also closed between Second Avenue and East-West Highway. Learn more. Volunteers Sought for Climate Planning Process Workgroups Montgomery County has launched a planning process to develop prioritized actions and strategies to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals of 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035.  Volunteers are needed for two workgroups that will focus on community engagement/education and climate adaptation/sequestration. Learn more. September 13, 2019 Celebrate Car Free Day with MCDOT September 20 On Friday, September 20, visit MCDOT’s tables at Takoma Park, Wheaton and Glenmont Metro stations and at Lakeforest Mall Transit Center for free giveaways, and take the pledge to go car free for a chance to win prizes. This worldwide event encourages greener methods of travel to get around other than driving alone by car. carfreemetrodc.org. September is National Preparedness Month Take advantage of local preparedness classes, sign up for Alert Montgomery and learn the four steps you should take for emergency preparedness. Learn more. MCDOT Sponsors Adult Learn to Ride Class on October 5 MCDOT and WABA have teamed up to offer an adult class for all skills on October 5 in Chevy Chase. Register Today! Ride On to Attend Run for EveryMind 5K September 15 Look for Ride On staff Sunday at the Run for EveryMind 5k run/3k walk at Rockville Town Square. Run or walk to support mental wellness—and stop by our table to learn about the Kids Ride Free program!  Ride Smart Travel Training Workshop for Seniors September 18 Register for a FREE one-day workshop to learn how to travel to destinations of your choice using public transit in Gaithersburg. To register, contact Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252 or email connectaride@accessjca.org. Bethesda Circulator is a Free and Easy Way to Get Around in Downtown Bethesda The free Bethesda Circulator bus makes a loop around downtown Bethesda, stopping next to the Bethesda Metro station, County parking lots and garages and more. There’s even a bike rack on the bus. See the route schedule.  Reedie Drive to Close for Wheaton Revitalization Work For twelve weeks, Reedie Drive will temporarily become one-way westbound traffic, between Georgia Avenue and Grandview Avenue, on or about September 28 for storm drain line installation. The glass installation of the Wheaton Office Building lobby is almost complete. This project is 72 percent complete and scheduled to open by May 31, 2020. Learn more at wheatonproject.com.

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