The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is moving forward with plans to expand its Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system along Veirs Mill Road, connecting Rockville and Wheaton with 12 modern stations, faster bus service, and significant pedestrian safety improvements. The new route is expected to begin service in late 2028.
The Veirs Mill Road Flash route will run between Montgomery College in Rockville and the Wheaton Metro Station, with intermediate stops at Rockville Town Center, Edmonston Drive, Atlantic Avenue, Twinbrook Parkway, Aspen Hill Road, Robindale Drive, Randolph Road, Connecticut Avenue, Norris Drive, and University Boulevard. The route will provide connections to the Metrorail Red Line, MARC, Amtrak, and the Rock Creek Trail, improving access to employment centers, schools, neighborhoods, and other destinations.
Flash stations are designed to offer an experience similar to light rail, with covered waiting areas, real-time bus arrival displays, and near-level platforms that allow for faster boarding through multiple doors. Where possible, buses will operate in dedicated lanes to bypass traffic, while transit signal priority and queue jumps at select intersections will help reduce delays and improve reliability.
The project also includes substantial pedestrian and roadway safety improvements, including approximately 3.8 miles of new and improved sidewalks and shared-use paths, four new traffic signals, upgraded pedestrian lighting, and additional protected crossings along Veirs Mill Road. Continuous pedestrian facilities are planned along one or both sides of Veirs Mill Road between Arbutus Avenue and Galt Avenue, as well as along Randolph Road between Veirs Mill Road and Bushey Drive.
According to MCDOT, property acquisition and utility construction activities are scheduled from 2025 through 2028, with construction taking place between 2026 and 2028. Flash service along Veirs Mill Road is expected to begin following completion of construction in late 2028.
Additional information about the project is available at VMRFlash.com.
