Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 25, 2016

The assistance that the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) was able to provide to travelers substantially helped to mitigate the impacts of SafeTrack surges 6 and 7. Weeks of planning paid off as staff put in place a comprehensive effort to boost Metrorail alternatives and encourage passengers to use them.

The County’s response to SafeTrack was truly a team effort thanks to County partners – the Montgomery County departments of Transportation, General Services and Police – and regional partners - the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the State Highway Administration, Capital Bikeshare, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. MCDOT’s Division of Transit Services staff showed exceptional dedication by volunteering to work many extra hours as did General Services staff who were able to keep Ride On’s retired buses in service.

Lessons learned will be especially valuable as the County plans for Surge #10, which will impact the greatest number of riders of any surge.

Highlights of MCDOT’s efforts included:

Putting 17 retired buses into service for Surge #6 and 12 during Surge #7 that traveled a total of 36,525 miles.
Extending peak hour special bus service to nine hours a day
Transporting 8,670 passengers on Ride On’s free shuttle buses during the five weekdays of Surge #6
Transporting 20,500 passengers on Ride On’s free shuttle buses during Surge #7
Enhancing bus service on Ride On’s Route 46 during Surge #7, which increased ridership by 9%
Stepping up to provide weekend bus bridges during the unanticipated Surge #7 weekend track closures

Other measures MCDOT coordinated included:

Worked with the Maryland Transit Administration to provide more MARC train cars on the Brunswick Line and sell tickets on some station platforms
Sold MARC tickets at MCDOT’s TRiPS store in Silver Spring
Created an interactive map of Park and Ride Lot options
Coordinated with Montgomery County Police to provide traffic control to improve bus operations at the Silver Spring Transit Center and other key locations.
Monitored traffic flow and adjusted traffic signals in real time in areas most affected by SafeTrack to improve bus operations and traffic flow, facilitating signal changes and providing enhanced response to disabled vehicles or other traffic impediments
Suspended MCDOT road repair projects along key routes affected by surges and requested that the Maryland State Highway Administration restrict lane closures and construction projects along these key routes
Prohibited metered parking during Surge #6 along MD 355, MD 97 and US 29 corridors to improve bus operations and traffic flow
Provided Ride On staff at affected Metro stations to assist passengers, direct them to shuttles and distribute information.
Held “pop-up” events at Metrorail stations to educate passengers about upcoming surges.
Posted interior and exterior Ride On bus and bus shelter ads, displayed informational posters at all Transit Centers and used social and traditional media to communicate with customers and the public
Provided Montgomery County Commuter Services assistance, including telework, alternate work schedules, carpooling and vanpooling.
Created a telework video and webinar and provided free, expert consulting services from Montgomery County Commuter Services
Promoted car share using Zipcars at some Montgomery County parking garages
Posted bike route “SafeTrack Detour” signs for surges #6 and #7
Co-sponsored “Learn the Route” free, guided bike rides in advance of each SafeTrack surge
Encouraged ride-sharing through Commuter Connections
Promoted the Fare Share commuter benefits matching program in Transportation Management Districts and to major employers