The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has started lane painting to create dedicated bus lanes on University Boulevard (MD 193) between Amherst Avenue and Dennis Avenue. MCDOT expects to complete the project in early December. The dedicated bus lanes will provide faster Ride On and Metrobus service on this vital corridor, improving the connection between Four Corners and Metrorail at Wheaton Station.
Per MCDOT: “On Tuesday, Nov. 14, starting at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid public meeting to discuss the construction of sidewalks adjacent to Joann Leleck Elementary School within the Oakview community on Stateside Drive from Avenel Road to Stateside Court.
The sidewalk project was initiated by MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School program to provide a safe route for students walking and biking to Joann Leleck Elementary School. MCDOT encourages you to attend, share your input and provide any suggestions that may better reflect your community’s needs.
Per MCDOT: “On Tuesday, Nov. 28, starting at 7 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the latest plans for the Heritage Triangle Trail Project in Sandy Spring. The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
The Heritage Triangle Trail is a project to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Dr. Bird (MD. 182) and Norwood Roads. The Dr. Bird Road section is planned to run along the east side of Dr. Bird Road (MD 182) from Sandy Spring Road (MD 108) to the current terminus of an existing shared use path located approximately 1,400 feet south of MD 108. The Norwood Road section is planned to run along the east side of Norwood Road from just north of the driveway to the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring to just south of Ednor Road, where it will tie into an existing shared use path approximately 1,700 ft. south of the Adventure Park. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of this project.
Per MCDOT: “On Wednesday, November 8 starting at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold an online and in-person public information meeting about the concept designs for the Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study – Wisteria Drive in Germantown. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
The Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study is a facility planning study of multimodal improvements, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities safety and connectivity improvements, access improvements to nearby bus stops and the Germantown MARC train station, in Germantown. The limits of this project are from Great Seneca Highway to Germantown Road on Wisteria Drive and Middlebrook Road. This project will evaluate the safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists, facilities connectivity and access improvements, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus stops.
Per the Washington Regional Alcohol Program: “Preparing to combat that time of year when according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (48%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers,* a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this month’s Halloween celebration.
Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2023 Halloween SoberRide® program will be in operation beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 and operate until 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period
With Halloween and Daylight Saving Time approaching, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is urging drivers and pedestrians to use extra caution when traveling during evening hours.
“The National Safety Council tells us that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “That statistic should serve as an important reminder for motorists; drive safely, keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters, and never drink and drive if you’ve celebrated with alcohol. As the clocks turn back on Nov. 4, drivers and pedestrians should also be aware of the safety challenges that occur as it gets dark earlier during the shorter days of fall and winter.”
Per MCDOT: “On Monday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss the project scope, details and projected schedule of the Shady Grove Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvement project in Gaithersburg. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
The Shady Grove Road Bikeway and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project provides for a facility planning study to enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities as they travel to nearby schools and facilities. The project will also address intersection safety and traffic calming using signage and pavement markings as well as side paths, separated bike lanes and other traffic calming methods. The project limits are from Darnestown Road to Midcounty Highway. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of this project.
Per MCDOT: “On Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid public meeting to discuss the latest progress of the Old Columbia Pike / Prosperity Drive Improvements project in White Oak. The on-site meeting will be held in the Community Lounge of the White Oak Community Recreation Center located at 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20904. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
The Old Columbia Pike / Prosperity Drive Improvements project provides for a facility planning study to enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities as they travel to nearby schools and facilities. The project will also address intersection safety, capacity and drainage issues within the project limits of Stewart Lane to Cherry Hill Road. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of this project.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation warns of an increased chance of encountering deer on the roadway. In a tweet from earlier today, MCDOT wrote: “With the shorter days and 🦌deer🦌 mating season here, please be on the lookout👀for deer alongside and on the roadway during dawn🌄 & dusk 🌆. Slow down if a🦌deer🦌crosses the road ahead. Deer often travel in groups & others🦌🦌🦌🦌 may be nearby.”
Additional information and tips below, per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds motorists to be vigilant. During this time deer travel across roads in often unpredictable patterns at all times of the day in search of a mate. Most wildlife species are also more active this time of year, as they search for food to prepare them for the coming winter.
Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a series of virtual public meetings to present the findings of three separate elementary school walkability studies including Forest Knolls Elementary (Silver Spring), New Hampshire Estate Elementary (Silver Spring), and North Chevy Chase Elementary (Chevy Chase) schools. The meetings will show study findings and discuss the sidewalk and safety needs of students walking and biking to the studied school.
Each of the walkability studies reviewed the condition of existing infrastructure and recommended improvements that may be implemented within the school walkshed to provide safe and accessible routes for students walking and biking to the school. Most of the improvements that could be implemented quickly, such as signing and marking, have been completed. These community meetings will help County staff better understand safety needs and plan future sidewalk and safety improvement projects within the school walkshed.
Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is partnering with the State to celebrate “Walktober,” a month-long series of activities in October promoting Maryland’s official exercise: walking. Maryland named walking as the official State exercise in 2008.
“Walking improves your physical and mental health, strengthens community ties and reduces environmental impacts,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are committed to making walking and pedestrian mobility easy, safe and accessible throughout Montgomery County. Whether you are using walking as a form of transportation or recreation, I encourage all residents to take advantage of our County’s pedestrian-friendly suburban and urban centers and more than 250 miles of hiking trails to explore Montgomery County and enjoy the fall weather.”