This content is provided by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is excited to launch two new Ride On extRa routes on Sept. 8th, which will provide high frequency, limited-stop service between Shady Grove Metro Station and the Great Seneca Life Sciences Center. MCDOT launched its first high frequency, limited stop service, Ride On extRa, along Route 355 in 2017. The Great Seneca Ride On extRa expands this service with two new routes – Pink and Lime – that will provide faster service during weekday peak hours and extended service on weekends. The Pink route links the Shady Grove Road corridor with the Life Sciences Center and Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center via Medical Center Drive. The Lime Route uses I-370 to provide an express route to RIO, Crown Farm, and the heart of the Great Seneca Life Sciences Center.
The Great Seneca Ride On extRa aims to connect neighborhoods and businesses while improving mobility for all residents and access to important job sectors in Montgomery County including biotech, education and healthcare. Great Seneca Ride On extRa is an important factor in expanding County residents’ travel options, while supporting the continued growth and development in the medical sciences industry by providing additional efficient ways to travel in the County.
Both bus routes will operate with sections of dedicated bus lanes and “traffic signal priority,” which gives a longer green light to the bus so bus riders can reach their destination faster. The bus schedule is designed to minimize wait times for riders, with service every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends. The two lines are expected to transport between 4,000 to 5,000 riders each weekday.
The Pink and Lime routes will provide connections to one-third of the Regional transit services network including MTA buses, Metrobus, Metrorail and 26 Ride On routes. Both routes will feature newly designed bus shelters providing weather protection, built-in lighting, real time transit information display, seating for two, bicycle securement, a trash can, and a lighted totem with a location specific map.
“The opening of the Great Seneca Transit Network will be a big boost to the residents and those who work in the Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Shady Grove communities,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The addition of these two express bus routes and dedicated bus lanes will connect Metrorail directly to the Life Science Center and Universities at Shady Grove. The workforce within this transit corridor has nearly doubled since 2010 and these new routes will help support the public transportation needs of employees and students. I have supported this project for years and expect it to help grow our biotech sector and spur economic development.”
In addition, the Montgomery County Climate Action Plan has set a goal to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. That includes all buses in the Ride On Fleet. Ride On currently has fourteen zero emission buses, and an additional thirteen zero-emission buses have been ordered for this service. Once they become available, the zero-emission buses will be placed in operation along these two corridors sometime during calendar year 2025. The new buses will also have the upgraded amenities associated with Ride On extRa branded buses such as extra padding on seats, low floor boarding, free WiFi access, USB charging ports, and information displays.
The Ride On Bus System is the second largest system in Maryland and the Washington, DC area. It operates 284 vehicles in maximum service on over 80 different routes with an average of 62,000 weekday passenger trips. Montgomery County is committed to moving people and connecting places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy.
Learn more at RideOnBus.com.
