Montgomery County, MD - Department of Transportation - Press Releases

Monthly Commuter Parking Permits Can Now be Purchased Online

23 May 2013 17:08:00 EST

Residents can now purchase monthly Parking Convenience Stickers (PCS permits) and the AM/PM monthly permits online. PCS permits allow unlimited parking for one calendar month at County long-term meters (up to 15 hours) in parking garages, lots or PCS reserved areas. There are also a few long-term, on-street parking meters in Silver Spring, North Bethesda, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills. Once the permit transaction is completed online, the permit will be mailed to the purchaser.

The AM/PM monthly permit allows unlimited parking at long-term meters only from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Residents may continue to purchase the permits through the mail or in person at the Montgomery County Parking Division’s sales stores in Bethesda and Silver Spring.
Montgomery County operates parking lot districts in Bethesda, Montgomery Hills, North Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton.

Additional information on parking permits ...more

Bethesda Avenue-Woodmont Avenue project (parking lot #31) update

23 May 2013 12:06:00 EST

The work at the site formally housing the Division of Parking Management's parking lot at the corner of Bethesda Avenue-Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda continues. This lot was designated Lot 31 by MCDOT. The new develpment, when finally completed, will feature some 940 underground, public parking spaces. Here's an update on the project. Text in italics is new information since the last MCDOT News update.

* On the construction site: The contractor reports that the concrete work continues. A number of footers have been poured including work on the Garage P4 level columns. Other work that continues includes waterproofing the walls in front of the sheeting and shoring, installing the below grade storm water tanks, and removing rock/soil under the east side shoring system. The second tower crane pad has been poured in the north/northeast quadrant of the site. The tower crane itself will be installed the first week of June. The construction ramp is ...more

Metro launches unlimited 7-day "short trip" pass on SmarTrip cards

21 May 2013 16:53:00 EST

Metro's $35 seven-day "short trip" pass became available on SmarTrip cards effective May 20, 2013. This new upgrade allows SmarTrip users to purchase and load short trip passes from the convenience of their computer.

Previously, the short trip pass was available only as a paper fare card. This meant that riders had to stop at a fare vending machine to purchase the pass, or have the paper pass mailed to them. By launching the short trip pass as a SmarTrip product, riders can load a new pass onto their SmarTrip card at smartrip.com, in addition to purchasing the pass at a fare vending machine.

7-Day Short Trip Pass Quick Facts
• Cost $35
• Pass is valid for seven days from first use. It expires at the end of the seventh operating day.
• Good for unlimited Metrorail trips valued up to $3.50 during peak periods
• Good for unlimited Metrorail trip ...more

MTA public hearings June 4-6: proposed elimination of three commuter bus routes along the Inter County Connector

20 May 2013 17:48:00 EST
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will hold several public hearings in June on the proposed elimination of three commuter bus routes along the Inter County Connector (ICC) that would impact service to Walter Reed-Bethesda, Fort Meade, and elsewhere.

* Route 202: Weekday peak service between Gaithersburg and DOD/Fort Meade
* Route 203: Weekday peak service between Columbia and Bethesda
* Route 204: Weekday peak service between College Park and Germantown

Visit MTA's website for information on the dates, times, and locations of the public hearings. ...more

Minor Schedule Adjustments on Three Ride On Bus Routes

19 May 2013 14:14:00 EST

Effective May 5, Ride On made minor schedule changes to its bus routes 42, 45 and 94 to better match schedules with bus operations.
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Riders are encouraged to use Ride On Real Time to get up-to-date information by computer, smartphone or text message about when their next bus is arriving.

For more information about Ride On, call 311, or from outside the County, call 240-777-0311, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The TTY (for hearing impaired) number is 301-251-4850. Or, visit the Division of Transit Services’s website. Information on the changes is also available in Spanish.
...more

Construction begins on MacArthur Boulevard bikeway improvements

17 May 2013 11:17:00 EST

The Division of Transportation Engineering has begun work on bikeway improvements along 13,800 linear feet of MacArthur Boulevard. This is known as Segment 2 of improvements along this bikeway corridor. Segment 2 extends from the Beltway/I-495 to Oberlin Avenue.

The contractor, Fort Myer Construction, has been on site since mid April but has now begun actual construction work.

This project is part of the Capital Improvements Program and is designated as project number 500718-2. For budget information on this or other CIP projects, visit the Office of Management and Budget's website. For more information on this and other transportation-related construction projects, visit the Division of Transportation Engineering's website.
...more

Leggett Joins Governor at Bill Signing for Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act

16 May 2013 11:35:00 EST

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch at the bill signing for the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. Leggett has been an outspoken advocate for an increase in transportation funding revenues.

“The Washington region has the dubious distinction of being rated number one in the nation as having the worst traffic congestion and that is why Montgomery County’s number one priority for more than 10 years has been to obtain more transportation funding,” said Mr. Leggett. “For six years, I have strongly advocated for an increase in the state’s gasoline tax, which hasn’t risen since 1992 when George Bush Sr. was President. Since then, I have testified at every hearing on this issue and have been relentless in its support.”

For more information, see the

“Give and Ride” Program Helps Feed Area’s Neediest Families

15 May 2013 17:32:00 EST
This year, Montgomery County’s annual “Give and Ride” food drive campaign successfully collected enough donated food to feed 115 needy area families. County residents donated canned and non-perishable food on the County’s Ride On buses. In exchange, donors were able to ride the bus for free. All donated food was given to Manna Food Center.

“This year, Ride On passengers donated over 8,161 pounds of food,” said Rev. Angela M. Whitmal, interim executive director of Manna Food. “We truly appreciate the generosity of both those who donated food and the Ride On drivers and employees who gave of their time to help their neighbors in need.”

“During these tough times, our community has rallied to help others in need,” said Carolyn Biggins, general manager of Ride On. “Ride On is not just a bus service – it’s a family of caring individuals who reach out to make ...more

Update on five road maintenance projects in local subdivisions

07 May 2013 14:58:00 EST

Several new road maintenance projects by the Division of Highway Services are beginning in local subdivisions.

Paving projects, in which crews will resurface the local streets with hot mix asphalt:

* Westlake Drive (Bethesda service area) from Democracy Boulevard to Tuckerman Lane, to begin on or about the week of May 13, 2013. The project should take 4 weeks weather permitting, with construction occurring between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

* Seven Locks Road (Potomac area) from Montrose Road to Tuckerman Lane, originally scheduled to begin on or about April 1, 2013, has been postponed to July, 2013. The project should take 6 weeks weather permitting, with construction occurring between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm.

Permanent patching projects, in which crews make structural, permanent patches to the road, a cost effective interim solution to maintain roadway stru ...more

Update on seven road maintenance projects in local subdivisions

30 Apr 2013 09:59:00 EST

Several new road maintenance projects by the Division of Highway Services are beginning in local subdivisions. These are some of the first paving work of the season!

Paving projects, in which crews will resurface the local streets with hot mix asphalt:

* Colesville Road (Silver Spring area) from East-West Highway/MD410 to Georgia Avenue/MD97, to begin on or about the week of May 6, 2013. The project should take 8 weeks weather permitting, with construction occurring overnight, between the hours of 8 pm and 5 am.

* Seven Locks Road (Potomac area) from Montrose Road to Tuckerman Lane, originally scheduled to begin on or about April 1, 2013, has been postponed to July, 2013. The project should take 6 weeks weather permitting, with construction occurring between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm.

Permanent patching projects, in which crews make structural, permanent patche ...more