Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will increase service on 31 Ride On bus routes starting Sunday, Jan. 29. The increases are part of the adjustments to 44 routes overall to improve efficiency based on ridership.
Throughout the year, ridership data and on-time performance are monitored regularly to identify routes that could achieve increased efficiency with schedule updates.
“The map on this page shows the current extent of the Streetery on Norfolk Avenue in red (between Del Ray Avenue and St Elmo Avenue). The project study area is shown with a dotted black line. The study area extends along Norfolk Avenue from Rugby Avenue to Woodmont Avenue. The study area also includes cross streets, approximately 100 feet in both directions from Norfolk Avenue.”
Per MCDOT: Have you been to the Streetery on Norfolk Avenue between Del Ray Avenue and St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda? Montgomery County is thinking about the future of this street and wants to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on the online survey so that MCDOT can make informed decisions with our community’s feedback in mind. The survey will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes of your time. Take the online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/PDRZ8K3. 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.
Per MCDOT: Below are the transportation-related schedule changes for the New Year’s holiday weekend, Saturday, Dec. 31, through Monday, Jan. 2:
View additional County holiday schedules here.
Per MCDOT: Starting Sunday, Jan. 9 and lasting approximately five weeks, WMATA will close five bus bays at the Wheaton Metro Station for Phase 3 of pavement rehabilitation. Bus Bays G, L, M, N, and P will be closed. Additionally, all buses will use the north exit. Temporary bus boarding locations can be found in the map below.
For the most up-to-date service information, riders should follow @RideOnMCT on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. In addition, information is available at RideOnBus.com, by subscribing to receive email alerts at montgomerycountymd.gov/govdelivery, or texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 468311 to receive text alerts.
A change.org petition has been started to remove the bike lanes that were recently added to Old Georgetown Road (MD187) in North Bethesda. MDOT converted one travel lane in each direction of the road, between south of I-495 and north of Nicholson Lane, to a buffered bicycle lane that include flex posts and green pavement. The remaining 11-foot travel lanes have also been narrowed to 10.5 and 10 feet.
According to the petition, “There are serious safety concerns regarding the new bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road (Maryland State Route 187) in Bethesda, MD. This heavily-trafficked 6-lane major highway has been reduced by 39% by removing 2 driving lanes and by reducing the width of the 4 remaining driving lanes. This ill-advised change was made in order to add 2 bike lanes with white plastic spikes separating the bike lanes from the driving lanes. This busy highway serves schools, the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, Suburban Hospital, and the Bethesda Fire Station. It is often used by emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, and police cars. Reduced by 39% in driving capacity, the road now is consistently congested, with back-to-back traffic even in the middle of the day in good weather. This non-stop traffic has resulted in cars trying to avoid the gridlock by cutting through quiet residential side streets where children play. Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, buses, and drivers in their personal cars can no longer quickly reach their destinations, potentially endangering many lives.”
Per MCDOT: Ride On buses will be operating on special schedules in Montgomery County for the Christmas (Dec. 24 – 26) and New Year’s (Jan. 1 – 2) holidays.
Dec. 24, 25 and 26:
Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Bus Rapid Transit buses, known as Flash, are all decked out for the holidays. Residents will see them throughout December running along Colesville Road and Columbia Pike (US 29) on the route from the Silver Spring Transit Center to Briggs Chaney and Burtonsville, with stops along the way.
Flash is a fast bus service that is currently planned for four additional corridors in Montgomery County. The projects will transform mobility options by offering high-frequency bus services along predetermined corridors. The projects also will bring bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridors to make it easier to get to Flash stations. Where possible, Flash buses will run in dedicated lanes to bypass existing traffic congestion.
Per Montgomery County: Below are the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) and regional partners’ transportation-related schedule changes for the Christmas holiday, Saturday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 26:
View additional County holiday schedules here.
Per MCDOT: Montgomery County could experience the first winter weather mix of the season this week according to some forecasts— Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and WSSC Water will emphasize the impact excessive salt use can have on the environment at an event in Gaithersburg at 4:45 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The event will be held at the County’s Gaithersburg Salt Barn, which is located at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Gaithersburg.
Per MCDOT: The Ride On Reimagined Study is a comprehensive, forward-looking assessment of the bus network that will result in significant recommended changes to how transit operates in Montgomery County based on current and future needs. This study will take an in-depth look at Montgomery County’s existing and planned transit systems, including Metrobus services that operate within the County limits and the future Purple Line, through data analysis and community engagement.
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is recruiting community members for focus groups. Both riders and non-riders are welcome to participate. Each focus group will be based on one of five areas across the County. Meetings will be held in public spaces such as Regional Service Centers or local libraries. The small group format will encourage active discussion. All locations are accessible via bus. Participants will be asked to attend two (2), two-hour-long local focus group sessions held from 6 – 8 p.m. on weeknights.
Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public forum on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, starting at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed extension of the current bus route 51 to provide service to the ICC Park and Ride lot in Olney. The new proposed extended bus route 51 will operate between ICC Park and Ride lot and Glenmont Metrorail Station with no additional changes to current stops.
A virtual public forum is being conducted on the proposed new route to gather public feedback regarding the proposed service expansion. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions. Community members can join the virtual public forum in two ways: