Per MDOT: For the second year, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office has received a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) to provide rideshare credits to Marylanders to help them Be the Make A Plan Driver and choose an alternative to driving impaired. Through the partnership funded by GHSA, Lyft, and Responsibility.org, 4,000 Lyft ride credits, each worth $5, will be available during the holiday season. Maryland is one of four states awarded the grant.
“Once again, we’re making the choice easy to be the driver who makes a plan and arranges a sober ride home,” said Governor Hogan. “No one should lose a loved one this holiday season, or ever, due to someone’s selfish choice to drive impaired. I encourage all drivers to make a plan for a sober ride home and save a life.”
Each Marylander is eligible to receive one $5 rideshare credit each weekend while supplies last. A select number of rideshare credits will be available between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. on the following dates:
- Thursday, December 1 through Sunday, December 4,
- Thursday, December 8 through Sunday, December 11,
- Thursday, December 15 through Sunday, December 18,
- Thursday, December 22 through Sunday, December 25, and
- Thursday, December 29 through Sunday, January 1.
To redeem the $5 credit, Marylanders should open the Lyft app, choose “Payment” from the menu on the top left corner, and scroll to the “Add Lyft Pass” section. After inputting the code found at ZeroDeathsMD.gov/Rideshare, $5 will be applied to the user’s account. Each rider is limited to one $5 credit each weekend through the entirety of the campaign. Code redemptions will be capped each weekend to ensure rides are available throughout the holiday season.
Last year, 173 people died and more than 2,800 were injured on Maryland roadways due to impaired driving. Additionally, in 2021 in Maryland, more than 15,430 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs — 1,616 of those arrests occurring between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
“With the holiday season being one of the most dangerous times on our roadways due to impaired driving, initiatives that promote ride-hailing, a proven countermeasure for deterring this reckless behavior, are critical,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “GHSA is proud to partner with Lyft and Responsibility.org to help Maryland encourage people to make the safer choice this year by leaving the driving to someone who is sober.”
In addition to the credits, the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office will promote educational messaging through Be the Sober Driver and Be the Make A Plan Driver on advertising platforms.
Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.
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The Maryland State Police (MSP) declares snow emergencies with input from MD State Highway Administration. As of 8:00am, a snow emergency was declared in Montgomery County.
“Once a snow emergency is declared, the law requires certain precautions.
They include:
- Prohibited parking on roads and streets designated as snow emergency routes; and
- The use of snow tires/chains (most cars now use all weather tires, so changing to “snow” tires is unnecessary);
Once an emergency is in effect, all requirements are in effect until lifted. A Snow Emergency Plan is put into effect by county. Certain exceptions can occur while a snow emergency plan is in effect. A specific route(s) can be lifted and the remainders of the roads in the county still remain under the Snow Emergency Plan. If the Statewide Operations Center is notified of an exception, we will note these routes as exceptions in our list below. Please check back periodically for updated information.”
To monitor snow emergencies, and when they are declared/lifted across the state, you can check out MDOT’s snow emergency plans.
Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 21, 2021
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has expanded the service area for e-scooters to include Germantown. The service was expanded into the Gaithersburg area earlier this year.
MCDOT introduced the dockless e-scooter program in designated areas of the County in June 2019. MCDOT has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with three, dockless e-scooter providers—Bird, Lime and Spin—to operate in designated test areas.
“Since bringing e-scooters to Montgomery County just over two years ago, we have found that they are a popular transportation alternative,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am glad that we are expanding scooter access to Germantown to allow residents there to utilize this smart, affordable and more environmentally sustainable form of transportation. E-scooters help us achieve our climate action goals by decreasing the reliance on automobiles while providing our residents with more public transportation options to get where they are going.”
Bird started providing e-scooters in the Germantown area in early December. By downloading the Bird App, riders can check pricing, locate the nearest e-scooter on a service area map, review safety videos and learn the correct way to park after reaching their destination. Residents can download the Bird app here.
“E-scooters provide a first mile/last mile transit option for area travelers and enable residents to conveniently navigate short distances without using single-occupancy vehicles,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Since 2019, over 200,000 e-scooter trips have been taken within Montgomery County.”
Rules for e-scooter use in Montgomery County include:
- Must be 18 or older to rent an e-scooter.
- Must show a valid driver’s license.
- E-Scooters can only be parked within the specified east and west geographic areas.
- Riders will not be able to end their trip outside the service area.
- Speed limit for e-scooters is 15 mph.
- E-Scooters must be parked in the public right of way and cannot interfere with traffic operations, block driveway access, crosswalks, ADA ramps, pedestrian access, bus stops, fire hydrants or impede access to private properties or businesses.
MCDOT strongly encourages all e-scooter riders to wear a helmet.
MCDOT has conducted numerous free e-scooter training and safety clinics for residents 18 and older and will resume training classes in spring of 2022.
Visit the MCDOT Commuter Services website for more information on alternative travel options in Montgomery County.
For more information on MCDOT programs, services and updates visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter and subscribe to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter.
The Maryland State Highway Administration District 3 has developed a proposal in response to safety concerns raised by residents, the Mayor, and Councilmember Dyballa, for MD 410 Ethan Allen Avenue and Elm Avenue in Takoma Park.
The proposal would restrict travel at the intersection in the following ways:
- allowing only right turns onto Elm Avenue for vehicles traveling on Ethan Allen Avenue in either direction
- left turns from Ethan Allen onto Elm Avenue would not be allowed in either direction
- through traffic across Ethan Allen Avenue from either side of Elm Avenue would not be allowed
- Signage would be installed near Prince Georges Avenue and Elm Avenue notifying drivers that vehicles cannot exit onto Ethan Allen Ave
- Signage would be installed on the south side of the traffic circle at Elm Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, notifying drivers that vehicles cannot exit onto Ethan Allen Ave
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) has initiated a Multi Modal Shared Streets pilot project, to be implemented on MD 193 (University Blvd.) between Amherst Avenue and Arcola Avenue in Wheaton, Montgomery County.
This project will temporarily repurpose travel lanes to enhance safety and mobility for all roadway users.
If you would like to add further comments after taking the survey, please feel free to reach out to us via email at: [email protected]
Overview of the project:
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) has initiated design on a multi-modal shared streets pilot project on MD 193 (University Blvd.). This context-driven project seeks to balance multi-modal mobility and access to and from commercial, residential and recreational centers in Wheaton.
This project will temporarily repurpose travel lanes adjacent to the curbs on westbound and eastbound MD 193 for use by bicyclists between summer and fall 2021. These changes are part of a county wide initiative to enhance safety and mobility for all roadway users. At the conclusion of the pilot project, vehicular use of all travel lanes will be restored.
Updates
1. MDOT SHA has completed the construction of this project by installing the vertical delineators on both east and westbound. Resurfacing and restriping efforts have also been completed, along with the addition of continental crosswalks.
2. MDOT SHA has also installed two Mobile MULTI Eco-Counter devices along eastbound and westbound MD 193 (University Blvd) at Sligo Creek Pkwy and Westchester Drive, respectively. These devices will provide continuous data collection for all multi-modal users, both pedestrians and bicyclists for the next several months until project demobilization. The data gathered will be utilized to develop a full study and will help MDOT SHA analyze the utility and mobility of pedestrians and bicyclists in the area. This data will also help us understand the demand for the multi-modal program moving forward.
MDOT MTA Will Resume Full Scheduled Service on MARC Train and Commuter Bus Effective Monday, August 30- Fare Increase to Follow
Governor Authorizes Funds from the American Relief Plan Act to Offset Core Service Fare Increases Required Under 2013 Maryland Law
Per MDOT MTA:
BALTIMORE, MD (June 21, 2021) As the COVID-19 recovery continues across Maryland and onsite workplaces reopen, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) will resume full scheduled service on MARC Train and Commuter Bus effective Monday, August 30. Since November 2020, in response to lower ridership while maintaining service for essential workers, MARC has operated under an enhanced “R” schedule, while Commuter Bus has run on an “S” schedule. Both will return to full service schedules.
MDOT MTA is legislatively-mandated to increase fares for Core Service every two years under the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which was approved by the Maryland General Assembly. Fares for Core Service were last changed in 2019. The 2013 law mandates that fares increase a minimum of 10 cents or higher every two years based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) calculation. As a result, fares will increase from $1.90 to $2.00 – for Local Bus, Light Rail and Metro Subway. Mobility single-trip fares will increase from $2.10 to $2.20. These new fares will be effective on June 27.
However, to mitigate the continuing economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Larry Hogan has authorized the Department of Budget and Management to allocate funds from the American Relief Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to offset the impact associated with implementing this legislatively-mandated fare increase. As a result, Core Service riders will continue to pay $1.90 and Mobility riders will continue to pay $2.10 through June 26, 2022.
“I am grateful to Governor Hogan for the strategic use of ARPA funds to directly support transit riders,” MDOT MTA Acting Administrator Holly Arnold said. “Transit is a critical connector of jobs, schools, medical services and amenities, and this fare increase deferral will provide much needed economic relief, especially to our transit-dependent riders.”
Legislatively-mandated fare increases for MARC and Commuter Bus – which had been scheduled for 2020 but were already delayed due to the pandemic under an executive order from Governor Hogan – will go into effect June 27, 2021. Under the 2013 state law, fares for Commuter Bus and MARC are reviewed every five years. The last review was in 2015. The law mandates that when the CPI-U increases over the prior five years, MDOT MTA must increase Commuter Bus and MARC Train fares to the nearest dollar.
Based on the legislatively mandated formula, Commuter Bus and MARC one-way fares will increase $1. Fares on these services vary by zone. Riders can find information for specific routes at mta.maryland.gov. The surcharge for MARC Train fares originating or ending in West Virginia remains unchanged.
Public transit offers a great value for consumers and MDOT MTA monthly fare passes remain a cost-effective option when compared to regular rates. MDOT MTA continues to make significant investments in state of good repair projects to ensure the transit system remains a reliable transportation option for the region.
MDOT MTA’s proposed fall service changes include improved fare options for customers to match riders’ post-pandemic modified commute and travel patterns. New three- and 10-day fare passes would be available for Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, Commuter Bus and MARC Train. Available through CharmPass app, the passes may be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days, will be valid up to 12 months after the date of purchase, and will be discounted about 15% from a single day pass. For details, go to mta.maryland.gov/servicechanges/fall2021.
MDOT (Maryland Department of Transportation) sent an email this morning alerting residents of an ongoing text scam.
They address the scam in the email below, sent out this morning:
“If you have received a text from “Maryland-MDot Urgent” addressing “MDot customer” with a link, please ignore the text. This text was not sent by any agency associated with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), including the MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. It is SPAM and has been reported to MDOT’s IT Department.
DO NOT click on the link and DELETE the message.
If you did open it and clicked the link, for information on identity theft and ways to protect your identity, see Maryland Attorney General’s ID Theft page for help: https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/IdentityTheft/default.aspx
MDOT and its business units would not ask customers to provide this personal information in this way. We take the privacy our customers and their personal information very seriously.
Sincerely,
TEAM MDOT MVA”
