MCDOT Archives - Page 30 of 42

Hybrid Public Meeting on the Old Columbia Pike / Prosperity Drive Improvements Project in White Oak to be Held on Wednesday, September 27

Published September 13, 2023 at 6:38PM

Per MCDOT: On Wednesday, Sept. 27, starting 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 Burtonsville. 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, and improve intersection safety and capacity issues. Drainage issues within the project limits will also be addressed. The project limits are from Stewart Lane to Cherry Hill Road. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of this project.

Ride On Bus Ridership Trends Upward in Summer

By Patrick Herron

Published September 13, 2023 at 6:10PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) delivered more than 5 million rides on its Ride On bus transit system from March 2023 through June 2023, the last quarter of the 2023 Fiscal Year. That number represents a 9 percent increase in ridership over the same period of the previous year. The trend toward increased ridership on Ride On buses accelerated over those four months, with June recording a nearly 15 percent increase in total ridership over 2022.

“Higher rates of Ride On ridership benefit everyone by reducing the number of cars, improving traffic congestion, and helping our environment,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I hope to see this trend continue. Increased bus ridership is important toward the County reaching our Climate Action Plan goal of a 100 percent carbon emission reduction by 2035. We have invested significant resources into creating a modern, accessible and customer-focused transit network. We have more exciting plans to come for Ride-On including fully transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet while continuing to provide our riders increased amenities, improved routes and better on-time performance. If you haven’t tried Ride-On recently, please consider getting on board soon.”

Fall Cleaning of Montgomery County Public Parking Garages in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton Began Today (Monday, Sept. 11)

By MCS Staff

Published September 11, 2023 at 5:50PM

Per MCDOT: Starting on Monday, Sept. 11, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will begin its semi-annual interior washdown to degrease and clean 21 County-owned parking garages in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton. The cleanings will occur on nights and weekends starting with Bethesda garages in September and concluding with Silver Spring garages on Saturday, Nov. 4. Some garages will experience partial closures during the cleanings, including select entrance/exit areas and ramps. The full schedule of garage cleanings can be viewed  here.

MCDOT performs spring and fall washdowns to keep garages clean and help keep grease, oil and debris out of local waterways. Regular cleanings also prevent deterioration from prolonged exposure to salt, sand, oils, gas, dirt, pollen and leaves. MCDOT contractors will do their best to perform work around garage traffic and parked vehicles and to post signs notifying customers of anticipated impacts. For more information about parking in the County, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-parking/news/index.html. For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

Students Can Ride County Buses for Free with Youth Cruiser Card

By Patrick Herron

Published September 6, 2023 at 6:47PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is encouraging youth to take advantage of the free Youth Cruiser cards being made available at area schools and libraries. Youth Cruiser cards offer free bus fare for all MCDOT Ride On buses and most Metro buses operating in the County. The Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card is for County residents ages 5-18 (older if still in high school). It can be used for free rides on all County Ride On buses, including Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex and Flash. The card will waive fares on most Metro buses operating in the County. Value can be added to the card for service on Metrorail and Metrobuses operating outside of the County.

“MCDOT has been operating the Kids Ride Free Program since 2019,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Students with the Youth Cruiser card can tap their card on the farebox, and they will not be charged the current $1 fare. Buses are a safe and environmentally friendly travel alternative for anyone that needs to get around Montgomery County. This year, we launched a new app, Ride On Trip Planner, which is a free and intuitive, regional trip planner that makes finding the fastest public transit route easy.”

Overnight Construction at the Bethesda Metro Station Will Impact Ride On Route 34 Beginning Monday, Sept. 11

By Patrick Herron

Published September 6, 2023 at 12:15PM

Per MCDOT: Due to work on the fountain at the Bethesda Metro Station by Brookfield Properties, Ride On Route 34 will experience a temporary bus bay change overnight on Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12 between 11 p.m. – 4 a.m. Route 34 (Aspen Hill-Friendship Heights) will be relocated across the street, from bus bay A to bus bay D.

Ride On bus fare is only $1 and monthly passes are $22.50 using SmarTrip, cash, or tokens. Seniors age 65 or older, persons with disabilities and youth ages 18 and under all ride free using specialized SmartTrip cards.

Labor Day Detours Will Impact Ride On Routes 5 and 57 on Monday, September 4

By Patrick Herron

Published September 2, 2023 at 6:11PM

Per MCDOT: Due to Labor Day Celebrations, Ride On Routes 5 and 57 will experience detours on Monday, Sept. 4. Information for each detour can be found below.

To Silver Spring Station: From Knowles Avenue, left on Connecticut Avenue, continue on University Boulevard, right on Perry Avenue, right on St. Paul Street, left on Metropolitan Avenue, and back on route. Stops 24026, 24960, 21284, and 21282 will be bypassed. Use alternate stops 24028 and 23512.

A Virtual Public Hearing Will Be Held on the Petition to Permanently Close the Public Right of Way at the Westbard Avenue Intersection at River Road in Bethesda on Tuesday, Sept. 19

By Patrick Herron

Published August 31, 2023 at 3:02PM

Per MCDOT: On Tuesday, Sept. 19, starting at 2 p.m. the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public hearing on the petition to permanently close the public right of way at the NW terminus of Westbard Avenue Intersection at River Road in Bethesda.

The petition was submitted by the 5500 Westbard Avenue Block Civic Association (the “Applicant”), pursuant to the 2016 Westbard Sector Plan. The Applicant is requesting permanent closure of the public right of way from all vehicular traffic, including emergency vehicles, at the intersection. The petition also requests that a temporary closure remain in place until a permanent closure can be installed.

Child and Adult Used Bicycles Can Be Donated at the Annual Department of Transportation Event on Friday, Oct. 20, in Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:03PM

Per Montgomery County: Bicycles that are no longer being used by some can make a big difference for others. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact.

From  7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 20, bikes will be collected (rain or shine) outside of the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at East Jefferson and Monroe Street in Rockville. Bicycles should be in good working condition or in need of only minor repairs. Donations will be refurbished and MCDOT will match the bikes with residents in need through the Bike Match program.

Transportation Schedule for the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 4

By Patrick Herron

Published August 29, 2023 at 11:30AM

Additional schedule changes will be posted on the Montgomery County website at montgomerycountymd.gov.

Ride On Bus Overnight Construction at Silver Spring Transit Center Starts Tonight, Monday, Aug. 28

By Patrick Herron

Published August 28, 2023 at 2:57PM

Per MCDOT: Due to work on the Purple Line, overnight construction at the Silver Spring (Paul S. Sarbanes) Transit Center in will begin late this evening, on Monday, Aug. 28. Work will take place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday through Sept. 8. Riders should expect delays on Ride On Routes 9, 12, and 16 when arriving at Silver Spring Transit Center. Ride On Routes 1, 2, and 28 will not be impacted.

Ride On bus fare is only $1 and monthly passes are $22.50 using SmarTrip, cash, or tokens. Seniors age 65 or older, persons with disabilities and youth ages 18 and under all ride free using specialized SmartTrip cards. Riders can plan trips online using the free Ride On Trip Planner App.

565 Vehicles Stopped and 4 Arrested During Recent Sobriety Checkpoint

By Patrick Herron

Published August 23, 2023 at 1:13PM

On Friday, August 18, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police and allied agencies conducted a sobriety checkpoint on northbound Frederick Road at Game Preserve Road in Gaithersburg. On Tuesday, MCPD announced that during the checkpoint, officers stopped approximately 565 vehicles and arrested 4 people for driving while impaired.

Last month, recreational marijuana use became legal in the state of Maryland and Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones issued the following reminder before the July 4th weekend, “We implore drivers to think of cannabis the same way they think of alcohol. Do not get behind the wheel of a car if you are impaired. Our officers will pull over and arrest anyone they suspect of driving while impaired. Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for everyone.”