WASHINGTON — An ambitious plan would add bus rapid transit along Montgomery County’s Rockville Pike corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg, and Maryland and Montgomery County officials are trying to educate the public about the plans and their impact.
Officials from the state and county held the first of two public meetings Thursday night.
“We’re really trying to get information to the public and get feedback back from them in terms of what they think about the project,” said Joana Conklin, a project developer with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.
Another public meeting is set for from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gaithersburg High School. At the meeting, officials will hear comments and answer questions.
Plans for the bus rapid transit, which utilizes high frequency service, multiple wide doors, dedicated roadways and other features to move passengers around more quickly and efficiently, are not very far along in the preplanning stage, The Sentinel reports.
The county’s overall plan calls for a high-speed bus to operate in an exclusive or limit use lane on Md. 586, Md. 355 and U.S. 29.
While there are no finalized plans, County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett said he’s setting aside $6.5 million, specifically for the U.S. 29 portion of the plan.
In March, Leggett said he was committed to advancing by bus rapid transit:
“I am committed to advancing BRT on MD 355 by partnering with the state on the $10 million cost for the next phase of project planning. Therefore, I am programing $5 million in my Capital Budget and calling upon the state to match my commitment to move the MD 355 BRT study to a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) stage. Following selection of a LPA, we will have the necessary detailed information to allow us to identify and allocate funds for design and construction.
“In addition, I am recommending Ride On Plus priority service from the Lakeforest Transit Center to the Medical Center Metrorail Station in less than two years. The service will be peak-period, limited-stop with specially branded vehicles and upgraded stops/stations, including amenities such as transit signal priority and real-time bus arrival information.
“I will also be funding peak period express Ride On bus service from Clarksburg to the Shady Grove Metrorail Station to begin spring 2017.”
Residents are encouraged to submit questions or comments by email to md355brt@mta.maryland.gov or by mail:
Maryland Transit Administration
6 St. Paul Street
Suite 902
Baltimore, MD 21202.
WTOP’s Mike Murillo, Nick Iannelli and Colleen Kelleher contributed to this report.
Watch Leggett discuss bus rapid transit:
