MCDOT to Provide Supplemental Bus and Other Services During SafeTrack Surges

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 3, 2016

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) continues to develop plans to supplement the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) efforts to assist travelers during SafeTrack. SafeTrack is WMATA’s year-long effort to improve the safety and reliability of the Metrorail system. Three planned line segment repairs and around-the-clock single tracking projects, referred to as “Safety Surges,” will affect WMATA’s Red Line service in Montgomery County.

“Montgomery County residents and employees are going to be significantly impacted by SafeTrack and that is why I have directed MCDOT to take the lead in doing what we can to mitigate these effects -- not only for Red Line riders but for all travelers in the County,” said Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. “MCDOT is closely coordinating our response to SafeTrack with our regional partners – WMATA, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Capital Bikeshare -- through a multi-pronged approach in cooperation with our Police and Department of General Services -- to do what we can to offer options to our residents.”

MCDOT is coordinating with WMATA, MTA, MDOT and Capital Bikeshare to assist travelers as they continue to work on their service plans for later Surges. WMATA’s first Surge (Surge 6) in Montgomery County does not begin until August 1. WMATA has committed 40 buses to enhance service in surge areas. Responding to a request from MCDOT, MARC will add cars to existing trains during peak periods. Capital Bikeshare will offer a $2 one-time use option.

Throughout the Surges, MCDOT will be monitoring conditions and making adjustments as needed, but its initial plan is shown below:

ENHANCE RIDE ON SERVICE – INITIAL PLAN:

By keeping up to 17 recently replaced buses in service, MCDOT will both provide additional Ride On service on certain bus routes and free bus shuttles between affected Metrorail stations. Ride On will provide on-street ambassadors at affected Metrorail stations to help direct travelers to transit options.

Surge 6 - August 1 through August 7, 2016: Continuous single tracking from the Takoma to Silver Spring stations.

Ride On will provide free bus shuttles every 10 minutes during peak travel times:

• Silver Spring to Fort Totten stations (connecting with Metro’s Green Line) with service at Takoma Station; and
• Grosvenor to Friendship Heights stations, with stops at Medical Center and Bethesda.

Surge 7 - August 9 through August 18, 2016: Continuous single tracking from the Twinbrook to Shady Grove stations.

• Ride On will provide a free bus shuttle between the Grosvenor and Shady Grove stations via I-270 every 10 minutes during peak travel times.
• Ride On will add more buses to Ride On’s Route 46 that provides service from Grosvenor to Rockville via White Flint and Twinbrook, increasing bus frequency to every 10 minutes during peak travel times. Regular fares apply.

Surge 10 - October 10 through November 1, 2016: Total shutdown of Metrorail between NoMa-Galludet University and Fort Totten stations.

• Ride On will provide free bus shuttles every 10 minutes during peak travel times between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Fort Totten via Takoma Station along Blair Road.
• Ride On’s service will supplement WMATA’s bus bridge between Fort Totten and NoMa-Galludet University Station.

PROMOTE ALTERNATIVES THROUGH COMMUTER SERVICES

Coordinate with area employers to use Fare Share transit and vanpool benefits and increased State tax credits to augment promotion of alternatives to Metrorail, including vanpools, buses and MARC train. Promote adoption of telework by employers by holding seminars and webinars and providing free consulting services. “Telework Quick Start” webinars are schedule for June 23 and 28. Promote employer-based carpooling by facilitating match-up meetings, online enrollment, Guaranteed Ride Home registration and incentives. Promote biking and Bikeshare. Provide interactive information through website links and personalized assistance: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/commute or email  mcdot.commuterservices@montgomerycountymd.gov  for more information

ENHANCE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER (TMC) OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW

The TMC monitors and provides information on traffic conditions and can make traffic signal adjustments in real time. The TMC will increase its emphasis on improving traffic flow in corridors affected by SafeTrack Surges, facilitating signal changes and providing enhanced response to disabled vehicles or other traffic impediments.

USE ON-STREET PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT AS NEEDED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW

MCDOT will focus efforts on traffic corridors in areas affected by SafeTrack.

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Release ID: 16-439
Media Contact: Esther Bowring 240-777-651, Patrick Lacefield 240-777-6507