Annual Bike Drive to Repurpose Bicycles to be Held on Friday, Oct. 16 in Rockville
Donated bicycles can make a big difference for local community members. MCDOT’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact. Bikes will be collected, rain or shine, outside the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at the corner of East Jefferson and Monroe Streets in Rockville.
Bicycles should be in good working condition or require only minor repairs. Rockville Bike Hub volunteers will refurbish the bikes, and MCDOT will place them with children and adults in the County through the MCDOT Bike Match Program or through the Rockville Terrific Kids program. A portion of the bikes are also donated to Bikes for the World. Bikes that are not salvageable are recycled.
Community members are encouraged to bring their unused bicycles or organize a bike collection at their school, place of worship, or within their neighborhood and bring the bikes to Rockville on Friday, Oct. 16.
TOUR MCDOT’s MONSTER FLASH!
MCDOT Announces the Return of the Monster Flash Decorated Bus for Three Free Events in October
Residents can tour MCDOT's Monster Flash not-so-spooky “haunted” bus along with English, Spanish, and Chinese story times, a dance party, and crafts organized by Montgomery County Public Libraries. The bus will also be featured at this year's HalloWheaton event. Participants will get a chance to tour the bus, which is decorated with young children in mind, and learn more about the planned Flash Bus Rapid Transit Network coming to Montgomery County at the following free events:
Flash Bus Rapid Transit buses are currently running along US 29 Colesville Rd/Columbia Pike between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Briggs Chaney, and service has been extended north to Howard County during weekday rush hours. Flash offers fast, frequent, and convenient service running every seven to 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. Flash buses, like all Montgomery County Ride On buses, are free for all riders.
MCDOT is working to implement Flash bus rapid transit service across the County to implement faster, high-frequency bus service and improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to stations along the corridor. Veirs Mill Road Flash BRT is next in line and has begun utility construction. The central section of MD 355/Rockville Pike Flash BRT is currently in the design phase.
BE SAFE & SEEN ON HALLOWEEN
MCDOT Offers Safety Tips Ahead of Halloween
With Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31) approaching and daylight-saving time ending (Sunday, Nov. 1), MCDOT is reminding drivers to use extra caution when traveling during evening hours and to consider staying off the roads altogether during trick-or-treating hours.
MCDOT suggests these tips to help keep trick-or-treaters safe:
- Try to finish errands before it gets dark to avoid being on the road at the same time as trick-or-treaters.
- If you must drive, drive slowly and be alert. Children may be unaware of traffic and dart into the street unexpectedly.
- Trick-or-treaters should carry glow sticks or flashlights and use reflective tape on costumes.
MCDOT wishes you a fun and safe Halloween!
SoberRide Offers Free Lyft Rides for Halloween Celebrations
The Washington Region Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) SoberRide program will offer a limited number of codes for a FREE Lyft ride home (up to $15) on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. each night. The codes will be released to the public at 9 p.m. each day on the program website at wrap.org/soberride.
Public Transit Available to Take Residents to Montgomery County's 14 General Election Early Voting Centers Oct. 22-29
MCDOT is reminding residents that Ride On and Metrobus have several routes available to transport voters to the County’s early voting centers. Early voting for the 2026 Gubernatorial General Election will be held from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. from Oct. 22 through Oct. 29, including Saturday and Sunday.
All Ride On buses are free for all riders. Metrobus offers various free and reduced reduced fare programs including the Senior SmarTrip Card for seniors 65 or older, persons with disabilities and a Youth Cruiser card for students 18 and under.
Ride On and Metrobus routes that will serve early voting centers:
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Activity Center at Bohrer: Ride On Routes 55, 59.
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Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center: Ride On Route 48.
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Damascus Community Recreation Center: Ride On Route 90.
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Executive Office Building: Ride On Routes 44, 46, 47, 54, 56, 63.
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Germantown Community Recreation Center: Ride On Routes 71, 78, 98.
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Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center: Metrobus Routes M22, M70, D96.
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Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center: Metrobus Route M52.
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Mid-County Community Recreation Center: Ride On Routes 26, 39, 49.
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Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Rec. Center: Ride On Route 301.
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Potomac Community Recreation Center: Ride On Route 37. Metrobus Route M82.
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Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Station: Ride On Flex (Mon-Fri, 6 -10 a.m. & 2:30-7:30 p.m.).
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Silver Spring Civic Building: Ride On Routes 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, Flash.
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Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center: Ride On Routes 9 , 31, Metrobus Routes M20, M22.
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White Oak Community Recreation Center: Ride On Flash.
County Improves Pedestrian Safety by Adding Signals
MCDOT is continuing efforts to add traffic signals at previously unsignalized intersections and pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHB) across the County to enhance pedestrian safety at designated locations.
Crashes at or near intersections account for more than 56% of serious injuries and fatalities in the County. Adding traffic controls aims to reduce serious and fatal crashes by making streets safer and easier to cross.
PHBs are push-button-activated devices designed to stop traffic and allow pedestrians to cross the street. MCDOT installed four new traffic signals and two new PHBs, with the most recent PHB installations at Old Georgetown Road at Cordell Avenue and Darnestown Road at Yearling Place. An additional four PHBs are currently planned for construction.
MCDOT annually installs traffic signals and PHBs across the County, prioritizing high-crash-risk roadways with few safe places to cross. Crosswalks at or near schools are an important focus of the Safe Routes to School program.
There are 26 additional signalized crossings currently planned for County roadways, with 20 projects in the planning or design phase and six with scheduled construction dates. A map of completed and planned protected crossing projects is available online. The Federal Highway Administration reports that pedestrian hybrid beacons can reduce total crashes by 29% and pedestrian crashes by 55%.
MCDOT’s Pedestrian safety projects completed or in progress over the past year are available online.
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MCDOT Offers Adult Learn to Ride and Basic Skills Bike Classes in November
Advance registration is required to participate, with a cost of $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) or Capital Bikeshare for All members; however, registration is still required.
Participants in the Learn to Ride bicycle classes will learn how to start and stop, balance, glide, pedal, and steer a bike. Each student will progress at their own pace. Students in the Basic Skills class should be able to ride a bicycle and will continue to practice basic biking skills.
The classes are open to residents 18 and over, are limited to 25 people, and fill up quickly. October classes are sold out.
Adult Learn to Ride Bike class schedules:
Adult Basic Skills Bike class schedule:
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Montgomery County Celebrated ‘Walk and Roll to School Day’ at Glenallan Elementary School
MCDOT joined students, families, and faculty on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Glenallan Elementary School in Silver Spring to host a celebratory event in honor of National Walk and Roll to School Day. The event was one of many across the nation to promote pedestrian safety, walkable communities, and active lifestyles.
The event was organized by MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS program as part of the County’s Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Montgomery County.
MCDOT plans to study 15 schools during the 2026-2027 school year as part of the Safe Route to School program. The list of schools selected for walkability studies and a link to community input surveys are available on the MCDOT SRTS website.
The status of walkability studies for each MCPS school is available through the SRTS study status map. Pedestrian safety audits evaluate walkability within a one-mile radius of elementary schools, 1.5 miles of middle schools, and a two-mile radius of high schools.
MCDOT partners in Bike and Roll to School Day include Montgomery County Department of Police, Department of Recreation, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and Montgomery County Public Schools.
To learn more about National Bike and Roll to School Day, visit walkbiketoschool.org and view photos of the event here.
Montgomery County Charges Ahead with 70 New Electric Capital Bikeshare Bikes
MCDOT has announced the purchase and rollout of 70 new electric-assist Capital Bikeshare ebikes. This is the County’s first purchase of the popular bikes that have driven record ridership growth in the region’s Capital Bikeshare network. The ebikes are an investment that improves first- and last-mile transit access, reduces traffic congestion, and offers a cleaner, healthier transportation choice.
Capital Bikeshare pedal-assist ebikes have electric motors that enable users of a wide range of ages and fitness levels to more easily climb hills, extend riding distance, or simply provide a more comfortable ride on hot days. With more than half of daily Capital Bikeshare trips being under three miles long, about 15- to 20-minute rides, they also increase options for quick trips to nearby businesses, shopping, recreation, or other destinations, without needing to find or pay for parking.
The current cost of a fifteen-minute rental for ebikes is about $2.25 for Capital Bikeshare members and $6.25 for nonmembers. Ebikes can be rented through the Capital Bikeshare app by scanning the QR code located on the bike.
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Neighborhood Project to Slow Drivers Down, Improve Safety for All Users Along Wheaton’s McComas Avenue Marks First Milestone
On Monday, Sept. 14, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Natali Fani-González, and Councilmember Kate Stewart were joined by MCDOT Director Chris Conklin and other community leaders for a ceremony to mark the completion of phase one of the McComas Avenue Greenway project in Wheaton.
This project is an effort to establish more Neighborhood Greenways, streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds, designed and designated to prioritize walking and bicycling over traffic speed. As part of phase one construction, MCDOT crews implemented a series of upgrades designed to slow cars down throughout the neighborhood, making it safer to walk and bike.
The initial 1.2-mile project area spans McComas Avenue from St. Paul Street to Georgia Avenue and includes segments along Douglas Avenue, Windham Lane, and Drumm Avenue. The neighborhood is located near Westfield Wheaton Mall.
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Written testimony carries the same weight as oral testimony. All information provided will become a matter of public record.
Washington Grove Connector Trail in Washington Grove
The Washington Grove Connector Trail projectWashington Grove Connector Trail project will result in a shared-use path from the terminus of Crabbs Branch Way to the end of Brown Street in Washington Grove. The proposed 850-foot-long, 10-foot-wide trail will provide a paved connection for pedestrians and cyclists from Washington Grove to destinations and transit hubs, such as the Shady Grove Metro station. This important connection is identified in the 2006 and 2021 Shady Grove Sector Plans, as well as the 2021 Shady Grove Sector Plan Minor Master Plan Amendment.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or via email to the Project Manager, Jean Kapusnick at jean.kapusnick@montgomerycountymd.gov by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Proposed Bowie Mill Road Bikeway Project in Derwood
The Bowie Mill Road Bikeway Project proposes to construct a shared-use path/bikeway along Bowie Mill Road from Muncaster Mill Road (MD 115) to Olney-Laytonsville Road (MD 108). The project also provides a new pedestrian bridge over the Rock Creek North Branch to continue the side path along Bowie Mill Road. This 3.3-mile-long bikeway will provide a connection between existing trails and the Intercounty Connector Bike Path, Needwood Road Bike Path, Shady Grove Metrorail Station, Sequoyah Elementary School, Colonel Zadok Magruder High School, and Olney Town Center.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online written testimony form or via email to the Project Manager, Jean Kapusnick, at Jean.Kapusnick@montgomerycountymd.gov by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Closure of Whites Store Road in Boyds (Verify if completed)
Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Whites Store Road in Boyds is temporarily closed for approximately two (2) weeks while MCDOT crews perform the second phase of pipe replacements in the area. Work will occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and holidays. A detour with proper signage will be displayed. Local traffic will be maintained up to the closure.
During the emergency maintenance, MCDOT will remove and replace failing metal culverts with new twin concrete culverts.
Questions regarding the construction work or closure schedule should be directed to Yisa Adegun, Project Manager, at 240-876-5597.
One Day Closure of Cabin John Bridge on MacArthur Boulevard to Begin on Saturday, Nov. 7
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close the one-lane Cabin John Bridge, also called the Union Arch Bridge, on MacArthur Boulevard in Cabin John on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a rain date of Sunday, Nov. 8.
This closure is for an annual inspection and completion of minor repairs to the bridge. Annual bridge inspections involve a hands-on check of specific structural parts needing yearly monitoring, followed by targeted minor repairs to address early wear and tear. Inspectors look for concrete cracking, steel corrosion, section loss, and bearing or joint movement.
Detoured traffic will follow Wilson Lane to River Road and Seven Locks Road to River Road.
For questions about the inspection, contact Donald Fisher, Maintenance General Foreman for Washington Aqueduct, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District at 202-834-3731.
This work is not being conducted by the MCOT and is being reported as a courtesy for the traveling public.
CSX Announces Rail Crossing Closures for October Resurfacing Work
CSX has informed Montgomery County that, weather permitting, railroad work will temporarily close several rail crossings in October to allow for rail replacement and resurfacing of the northbound tracks. Similar work was completed last year on the southbound tracks. During the closure period, no vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians will be permitted to cross the railroad tracks. Detour routes will be posted. Travelers can expect heavy traffic during the closure period and are advised to seek alternate routes when possible.
This work is not being conducted by the MCOT and is being reported as a courtesy for the traveling public.
METRO
Metro to Release 50th Anniversary Smart Trip Cards From September Through November
Metro continues to celebrate our 50th year of service with the release of five commemorative Smart Trip card designs that honor the five decades of Metro. The gold-tinted cards offer customers a new way to take part in Metro's golden anniversary.
Metro Proposes Fare Increase, Free Access for DMV Youth
The transit agency also says a proposed initiative would provide free access on Metro Rail and Metro Bus for all children ages 5 through 18 who live in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia.
Read the Fox 5 article.
MARC TRAIN
New MARC Train Route Directly Connects Montgomery County to Baltimore
On Monday, Sept. 28, MARC train launched a direct weekday round-trip connection between the Brunswick Line and Camden Line, allowing commuters to travel directly between Montgomery County and Baltimore’s Camden Station without transferring at Union Station.
Key service highlights include:
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Direct Route: Connects Brunswick, Point of Rocks, Barnesville, Germantown, Metropolitan Grove, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Kensington, Silver Spring, College Park, Laurel, and Baltimore.
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Regional Expansion: Creates a direct transit link between Montgomery County and Baltimore, as well as between Frederick and Prince George's Counties.
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Promotional Fares: To launch this service, MARC Train is offering a $2 discount on one-way tickets between Brunswick Line stations and College Park, Laurel, and Baltimore Camden Station. Discounts are also offered on weekly and monthly passes. Tickets are available for purchase on the CharmPass app and at ticket vending machines.
MARYLAND STATE
Make a Difference in Our Region's Transportation Future: Participate in the TPB Regional Travel Survey This Fall
Following its first wave this spring, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) will conduct a second wave of the Regional Travel Survey (RTS) from October through December 2026. Information reported by participating households will help planners in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia better understand how, where, and when people travel and plan for the region’s changing transportation needs. The results will also help inform future transportation investment decisions.
Randomly selected households across the region will receive postcard invitations to participate and can receive $5–$10 per household member after completing the survey.
$44 Million for Montgomery County Transit Included in Maryland’s Six-Year Transportation Plan
Maryland transportation officials have outlined several projects and investments planned for Montgomery County as part of the state’s proposed $21.9 billion transportation spending plan for Fiscal Years 2027 through 2032.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson recently met with Montgomery County officials as part of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s annual statewide tour to discuss the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP). The six-year plan includes funding for transportation safety, maintenance, transit, and infrastructure projects across the state.
Among the largest Montgomery County-specific investments highlighted by MDOT is $44 million to support local transit operations, including funding for replacement buses and the county’s rideshare program.
Read the Mocoshow article.
MDOT Begins Bicycle-Pedestrian Project on MD 390 (16th Street) in Silver Spring
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) began construction on a $10 million bicycle and pedestrian route along MD 390 (16th Street) between Spring Street and 2nd Avenue in Silver Spring. The project exemplifies the Moore-Miller Administration and the Maryland Department of Transportation’s focus on safety. To advance work on the route, crews have implemented a single-lane closure on northbound 16th Street for approximately nine months. The State Highway Administration strongly encourages planning for additional travel time during construction.
Motorists can expect single-lane closures Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and off-peak nighttime single-lane closures as needed, within the project limits. Work hours are subject to change. State Highway Administration will make every effort to complete this project as quickly as possible while minimizing impacts to residents, businesses, and motorists.
The project is expected to be completed by late 2027 or early 2028, weather permitting. The bicycle and pedestrian route will provide connections to the upcoming MD 97 Montgomery Hills project and other bicycle facilities, as well as the Forest Glen Metro Station and the future Woodside Purple Line Station.
$11.3 Million Grant to Boost Bike Paths, Trails in Maryland
Bikers, walkers, and runners could soon see improved trails and expanded paths in Maryland, thanks to $11.3 million in grants.
The money comes from programs aimed at providing alternatives to driving and improving trails and bikeway networks, according to a Tuesday statement from the Maryland Department of Transportation. The investments combine $9.3 million in federal funding and $2 million in state funding.
Rehabilitation of a 20-mile stretch of the C&O Canal towpath in Montgomery and Washington counties is among the projects funded.
Read the WTOP article.
For information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to receive the latest MCDOT news by phone or email.
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