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.
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.
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.
Per MCDOT: Below is the transportation-related holiday schedule for the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 4:
Additional schedule changes will be posted on the Montgomery County website at montgomerycountymd.gov.
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.
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.”
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.
Per MCDOT: Due to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, Ride On Route 54 (Rockville-Lakeforest) will experience a detour through Saturday, Aug. 19. The detour will last from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. View all routes to the fair here. Details of the detour can be found below.
To Rockville Station:
Per MCDOT: On Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss the replacement of the Schaeffer Road Bridge (No. M-0137) over Little Seneca Creek in Poolesville. At the virtual public information meeting MCDOT will present the project details, costs, schedules and obtain public comments and answer questions. The bridge inspection revealed that the structure is in poor condition, considered structurally deficient and needs replacement. The completed project will enhance safety for motorists and bicyclists as they travel to nearby schools and facilities.
Online registration is required to attend. On the morning of the meeting, an email with a Zoom link will be sent to registrants. Prior to the virtual meeting, the public is encouraged to review the project files on the project website.
Hybrid Pedestrian Beacons, also known as signalized pedestrian beacons or high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) beacons, are an attractive and cost-effective option to meet pedestrian safety needs at mid-block crossings or where the traffic volume is too low to warrant a continuously cycling traffic signal. These traffic safety devices are pedestrian activated and help protect bicyclists and pedestrians by stopping traffic. In evaluating sites for a hybrid pedestrian beacon installation, MCDOT considers the volume of pedestrian traffic, the type of roadway, traffic speeds, and sight lines. Montgomery County typically installs these beacons where traffic speeds are 35 mph and lower. These beacons are being placed throughout Montgomery County and can be seen throughout the state of Maryland. This safety infrastructure aligns with the County’s Vision Zero initiative to improve pedestrian safety.
When a pedestrian presses the push button, approachin g drivers will see a flashing yellow signal indicating that they should slow down and be prepared to stop for pedestrians. The signal then changes to a solid yellow, then a solid red light indicating to drivers to stop. Drivers should stop anytime they see a solid red light. The signal makes a loud repetitive noise to indicate the light has turned red. Pedestrians will see a crosswalk signal displaying a walk sign.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) provided an update following Monday’s severe thunderstorms. Per MCDOT at 8:42pm:
• Little Seneca & MD 355