Residents Invited to Participate in Live Online Discussion with County Executive Ike Leggett

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will hold a “virtual” town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. County residents may submit questions to the County Executive before and during the chat at Live Discussion with Ike Leggett. Questions and answers will be posted both during and after the chat. For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507.

Developer Work Begins on East West Highway in Silver Spring

The lane closings are in the portion of East West Highway between Colesville Road and Blair Mill Road.

Clark Construction has begun lane closures on MD 410 (East West Highway) between Blair Mill Road and US 29 (Colesville Road) in downtown Silver Spring for utility-related construction activity that should be completed by Memorial Day, weather permitting. The closures will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The lane closures are required so Clark Construction can install a water main for a new complex of four apartment buildings located at 180 High Park Lane, adjacent to Blair Mill Road between MD 410 and Eastern Avenue.  The company is permitted to close one lane on eastbound or westbound MD 410; all traffic lanes will reopen by 3 p.m. each day.

Area residents are advised that equipment noise may be loud and disruptive. Drivers are advised that they may need to add extra commuting time. Signs will alert drivers to lane closures and traffic shifts on MD 410 and a flagging operation will also direct motorists through the work zone.

No sidewalk closures are scheduled for this work.  However, pedestrians are urged to use the safest signalized crossings at crosswalks.

For more information, contact Mr. Josh Loccisano, Clark Construction project manager at josh.loccisano@clarkconstruction.com or 703-405-6492.

Pew Research Center Report Looks at Who in the U.S. Relies on Transit

A Pew Research survey conducted in late 2015 found that one-in-ten Americans (11 percent) say they take public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Who is taking public transit varies substantially by region, nativity, and race and ethnicity. Read more.

Go Montgomery - April 1, 2016

MCDOT to Hold Public Hearings for Two Proposed Sidewalk Projects on April 14 MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering (DTE) will hold a public meeting to obtain resident input on two proposed sidewalks. Residents may present oral and/or written comments concerning construction of sidewalks. The sidewalks will provide persons with disabilities, pedestrians and bicyclists safer access to schools and nearby destinations. Read more. Purple Line-Related Utility Work to Begin in April in Downtown Bethesda; Washington Gas Must Replace a Gas Line Before Construction of the Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will begin a project on April 11 on behalf of Montgomery County to relocate utilities in preparation for construction of a new, ADA accessible Bethesda Metrorail Station South Entrance located at the intersection of Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Read more. Commuter Services to Host FREE Webinar on Transit Benefits MCDOT's Commuter Services will host a webinar on setting up a transit benefits program on April 7 at 10 a.m. Transit benefits can help companies attract and retain their best employees and save both employers and employees money. Based on recent legislation, employers can now offer up to $255 a month in benefits. Read more. Get Your Bike Ready for Bike to Work Day With winter waning, pedal-powered mobility options are kicking into high gear. Bike to Work Day 2016 will be held Friday, May 20. It’s not too early to register online for this fun, annual event online. Read more. Montgomery County Named 2015 Tree City USA for 20th Consecutive Year In recognition of its commitment to effective urban forest management, Montgomery County has been named a 2015 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. Read more. Final Design Selected for CCT-to-Little Falls Trail Connector A connector trail between the Little Falls Trail and the Capitol Crescent Trail now has a final design. See Park and Planning’s recommendation to the Planning Board. Read more. Update on Maryland Route 195 Bridge Construction SHA is rehabilitating the Maryland Route 195 bridge over Sligo Creek and Sligo Creek Parkway. From March 28 through April 8, Sligo Creek Parkway, from Maple Avenue to Jackson Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. All traffic will be detoured. Parkway users are encouraged to seek alternate routes. Read more about the project. Montgomery County Celebrates the 10-Year Anniversary of the Watershed Trash Treaty at the Transforming Communities Summit In March, County Executive Ike Leggett participated as a keynote lunch speaker at the Transforming Communities: Trash-Free Solutions for Healthy Lives, Clean Land, Safe Water Summit sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. This summit marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty, an agreement between regional leaders, businesses and governments who are committed to working towards a cleaner community. Read more. April 1, 2016 MCDOT Expands Bikeshare with Two New Stations MCDOT has two new Bikeshare stations, numbers 55 in Silver Spring and 56 in Bethesda, in the County’s Bikeshare network. Read more. Bikeshare Sation 55 Bikeshare Station 56 To MCDOT, Spring Means Road Resurfacing Resumes With the return of warmer weather, the Division of Highway Services (DHS) has begun its aggressive scheduleof road repairs for the season that lasts from spring through fall. Road repairs cannot be made when average pavement temperatures are below 50 degrees. Read more about the projects underway.

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

MCDOT Expands Bikeshare with Two New Stations

MCDOT has two new Bikeshare stations, numbers 55 and 56 in the County’s Bikeshare network. The stations were funded through a Maryland General Assembly bond bill.

Station 55 is located in the Lyttonsville area of Silver Spring, at the intersection of Lytonnsville Road and Lyttonsville Place. The station is near the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center, apartments and homes. The station will provide a connection to the east to the Silver Spring Metro/Transit Center, which is about a mile away, and a connection to the west to Bethesda via the Georgetown Branch Trail.

New 15 Dock-Bikeshare Station installed at Lyttonsville Road and Lytonsville Place in Silver Spring.

Station 56 is located in downtown Bethesda at Woodmont Avenue and Strathmore Street in the heart of the busy Woodmont Triangle commercial area and also near many apartments. This station will expand Bikeshare options in downtown Bethesda.

New 11 Dock-Bikeshare Station installed at Woodmont Avenue and Strathmore Street in Bethesda.

Three more bond bill-funded stations will be installed over the next few months. Two will be located in Silver Spring and one in Bethesda.

Additional State grants will be used to expand Capital Bikeshare to Wheaton in the first half of 2017, with a five-station network in the central business district, anchored by a station at the Wheaton Metro.

Another State grant will fund two more stations to expand service in Takoma Park in 2017.  One station will be located near the Takoma Langley Transit Center and the other near the Takoma Park Recreation Center.

Learn more about Bikeshare in Montgomery County and the DC area. 

To MCDOT, Spring Means Road Resurfacing Resumes

With the return of warmer weather, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Division of Highway Services (DHS) has begun its aggressive schedule of road repairs for the season that lasts from spring through fall. Road repairs cannot be made when average pavement temperatures are below 50 degrees.

The following projects are underway.

Permanent Pavement Patching Projects

DHS will make full depth, permanent patches that include excavating and replacing distressed pavement with hot mix asphalt. This repair process restores the pavement’s structural integrity and extends the life of the road by 15 to 20 years. 

For upcoming projects, through traffic will be accommodated at all times. Signs will be posted to notify residents of short-term, daily parking restrictions.  

Patching projects include:

• Brink Road, between MD 124 and MD 27, in Gaithersburg. The repairs began in March and should take about three weeks, weather permitting. Work hours will be between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some work may be done on Saturdays if required to expedite project completion.
• College View subdivision in Silver Spring begins in April. The project is expected to take about five weeks and work hours will be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some work may be done on Saturdays if required to expedite project completion.
• Sundown Road, between MD 108 and MD 650, in Gaithersburg. The project begins in April and will take about three to four weeks to complete. Work hours will be between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some work may be done on Saturdays if required to expedite project completion.

Residential Roadway Resurfacing Projects:

DHS is milling the pavement edge, adjusting utilities, paving with hot mix asphalt and leveling the shoulders in the following locations:

• Springbrook Forest community in Silver Spring. Resurfacing began in late March to repair roads following utility work completed by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission last fall. The project is expected to take about four to six weeks, weather permitting. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Some work may be done on Saturdays if required to expedite project completion.
• The Silver Spring Hillandale East neighborhood resurfacing begins in April and will take four to five weeks, weather permitting. Work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Some work may be done on Saturdays if required to expedite project completion.

MCDOT to Hold Public Hearings for Two Proposed Sidewalk Projects on April 14

Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Division of Transportation Engineering (DTE) will hold a public meeting to obtain resident input on two proposed sidewalks. Residents may present oral and/or written comments concerning construction of sidewalks. The sidewalks will provide persons with disabilities, pedestrians and bicyclists safer access to schools and nearby destinations.

The proposed projects are:

1. East Shaw Avenue-Autumn Drive, from New Hampshire Avenue to Autumn Drive on the north side and to Cannon Road on the east side. The sidewalk is located in Silver Spring.
2. On the south side of Wyngate Drive, from Old Georgetown Road to Melvern Drive in Bethesda.

The hearings for both projects will be held consecutively on Thursday, April 14 in the first floor auditorium of the Council Office Building located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The hearings begin at 6 p.m.

Project files are available for examination in DTE’s offices located on the 4th Floor of 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg.  Call 240-777-7270 during normal business hours to schedule an appointment to review the files, obtain project details, get more information on the public hearing or to reserve time to testify. 

Written comments may be submitted to: Annual Sidewalk Program, Department of Transportation, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878. 

MCDOT will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request -- with as much advance notice as possible -- preferably at least three business days before the meeting/event. Call 240-777-7220. TTY users use Maryland Relay. Taking these steps will provide us with sufficient time to best meet the requestor’s needs.