Montgomery County officials marked the completion of the first phase of the McComas Avenue Greenway project in Wheaton during a ceremony Monday, September 14.
County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Natali Fani-González and Councilmember Kate Stewart joined Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Chris Conklin and community leaders for the event.
The first phase covers approximately 1.2 miles along McComas Avenue from St. Paul Street to Georgia Avenue, along with portions of Douglas Avenue, Windham Lane and Drumm Avenue. The project is designed to create a neighborhood greenway that prioritizes walking and bicycling while reducing vehicle speeds. County budget documents list McComas Avenue Greenway Phase 1 as completed.
Improvements include raised intersections and crosswalks, speed humps, curb extensions, splitter islands, high-visibility crosswalk markings and bicycle sharrows. MCDOT also added sidewalk connections and reconstructed curb ramps to meet current ADA accessibility standards.
“We are prioritizing projects that will reduce speeding, cut down on crashes, and make streets work better for everyone,” Elrich said. “We want residents to feel like they can safely walk to the amenities that are nearby and feel connected.”
More than 200 community members provided feedback during the design process through public meetings, a survey and email. MCDOT said that feedback helped expand the project beyond its original scope. County project materials identify the greenway along McComas Avenue from St. Paul Street to Georgia Avenue and Drumm Avenue.
Phase two will extend the greenway approximately 0.10 miles beyond Georgia Avenue to connect with the planned Amherst Avenue Bikeway, creating a connection toward transit, residential, employment and retail destinations in Wheaton. County capital planning documents identify the second phase as running from Georgia Avenue to Amherst Avenue.
