For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Arthur Holmes, Jr., director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), has officially announced his retirement. His last day on the job will be December 19. In October, Holmes shared the news with County Executive Isiah Leggett.
“Art Holmes has provided tremendous leadership at a time of change and significant challenges,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “He has helped broaden transportation options for County commuters, deliver critical infrastructure, and support Smart Growth. We are doing more road maintenance, advancing more transit, and promoting more pedestrian safety. On behalf of a grateful County, I wish him all the best in retirement.”
During Holmes’ tenure, the County established a broader approach to transportation that placed greater emphasis on transit, biking and walking. He has been instrumental in implementing Leggett’s vision for developing new, transit-oriented, communities while ensuring that the County’s transportation infrastructure is maintained, repaired, rehabilitated and expanded.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Department,” said Holmes. “I look back on my 12 years with Montgomery County – two as Go Montgomery Director and 10 as Department of Public Works and Transportation and Department of Transportation Director – with great pride in the accomplishments of MCDOT. Together, we have ushered in a new era in transportation in Montgomery County – one that is focused on a comprehensive approach to mobility that encourages smart growth, transit-oriented development and alternative transportation, while enhancing and extending our critical road network, bridges and other infrastructure.
“What I am most proud of, however, is our MCDOT team. They exemplify the best of public service, and I truly appreciate all that they have done to improve the quality of life in Montgomery County for those who live, work and play here.”
Under Holmes, MCDOT has won dozens of national awards for its innovation, customer service and creativity. Major achievements during Holmes’ tenure include:
Transit: Moving forward plans for a Rapid Transit System, the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway; overseeing the significant growth in Ride On bus service to more than 26 million riders last year; introduction of popular express services; launch of Ride On RealTime; transformation of the bus fleet so that all buses are accessible and have bike racks; purchase of environmentally-friendly buses that now represent 65 percent of the fleet; provision of free bus service to kids and seniors; and building the White Oak and Germantown Transit centers.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Initiatives: Developing and implementing the County Executive’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative that has increased safety and decreased severity of injuries, significantly reduced collisions near schools, built dozens of miles of sidewalks and installed miles of lighting along pedestrian pathways; installing 51 Bikeshare stations and extending the trail/bikepath network with projects such as the Montrose Road Trail, the Shady Grove Metro bikeway access trail and the Woodglen Cycle Track.
Commuter Facilities: Completing the Shady Grove, Glenmont and Grosvenor parking garages that have encouraged commuters to take Metro; modernizing the County’s traffic signal management system with uninterruptible power supplies at County-owned signals and countdown signals.
Transportation Infrastructure: Overseeing construction of dozens of miles of new roads, including priority projects, such as Montrose Parkway, Father Hurley Boulevard Extended, Muncaster Road and Briggs Chaney Road east of US 29; rebuilding or repairing dozens of bridges; making countless intersection and spot improvements that have eased traffic congestion; meeting the challenges of BRAC through road, transit and pedestrian improvements; significantly expanding the budget for road, sidewalk, curb and gutter maintenance and rehabilitation and creating a pavement management system that targets road repairs to maximize cost effectiveness; and introducing innovation in parking that includes smart meters; payment by cell phone and credit cards; performance pricing; and electric vehicle charging stations in parking garages.
County Facilities: Completing a redevelopment agreement that will transform downtown Wheaton and the northern part of Silver Spring; and constructing the West and East Germantown, Silver Spring #1 and Takoma Park Fire stations; the Bethesda Depot; the Gaithersburg Depot, in partnership with the Department of General Services; the Germantown Indoor Swim Center; Seven Locks Salt Barn; Germantown and Rockville libraries; the Germantown Aquatic Center; Silver Spring Civic building; Mid County and Damascus Community Recreation centers; and 4th District Wheaton Police Station.
Storm Response: Transforming snow and storm response by opening an award-winning storm operations center; making operations more transparent to the public with an online snow removal status map and real time information; prioritizing response at hospitals, fire stations, bus stops and Metro stations; and establishing strike teams for emergency responders.
Holmes is a retired U.S. Army Major General, retiring as Commanding General, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command. He received several awards and decorations such as the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal. He served for seven years on the Montgomery County Planning Board as a commissioner, and then vice-chair and chairman.
Holmes is a resident of Olney. He served on the boards of the NAACP, Leadership Montgomery Foundation and the Olney Theater. He has participated in Leadership Maryland, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Kent State University in Ohio, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hampton Institute/University in Virginia.
Release ID: 14-432