Leggett Announces Completion of Nebel Street Separated Bike Lanes; Another Step Forward in Transforming the Pike District

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 17, 2016

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett today announced that the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has completed construction of one-half mile separated bike lanes on both sides of Nebel Street between Randolph Road and Marinelli Road. This is another important step forward in transforming the Pike District into a bikeable, walkable, transit-oriented community. Once an additional connection is completed on Marinelli, there will be a continuous protected bike lane connection from Montrose Parkway along Nebel Street connecting it to the White Flint Metrorail Station. MCDOT constructed the County’s first protected bike lane on Woodglen Drive – the first suburban one in the Country. 

“The Pike District is in the process of transforming itself into a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented community and the completion of the Nebel Street protected bike lane is one more step towards this goal,” said Leggett. “Creating a smart-growth community in the Pike District means more economic opportunities, more jobs and a better environment. It means making Montgomery County more competitive and brings greater prosperity and a stronger sense of community to this area.”

The Nebel Street six-foot-wide bike lanes are one-way and located against the curb on either side of the street with flexposts separating them from moving vehicles.  A striped buffer area provides additional protection for cyclists.  Parking was removed on the west side of Nebel Street and relocated to the east side.

The project includes the first, two-stage turn queue box, that was installed at the Nebel Street and Randolph Road intersection.  These boxes allow bicyclists to make left turns at multilane intersections from a right-side separated bike lane, or right turns from a left-side separated bike lane. 

The bike lane construction was a collaborative effort among three MCDOT divisions that took advantage of plans by the Division of Highway Services to resurface Nebel Street. The Division of Transportation Engineering designed and constructed the project by reconfiguring the roadway to include the bike lanes, construction of new curb ramps and pedestrian refuge islands, pavement markings, bike boxes

and bike lane signage. The Division of Highway Services performed the micro-resurfacing work. The Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations modified the traffic signal at Randolph Road and Nebel Street and installed new traffic signs. The Division of Parking Management relocated the parking meters to the east side of the street.

“MCDOT fully supports County Executive Leggett’s vision of the Pike District as a smart-growth community – one that provides a robust variety of transportation alternatives so people can get where they want to go without having to use a car,” said MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh. “I’m very proud that my entire department is committed to creatively using every opportunity to transform the County’s transportation infrastructure by expanding options for our residents, employees and visitors. We are building a balanced and comprehensive network – not only in the Pike District, but countywide – that is enhancing the quality of life for everyone in Montgomery County.”

MCDOT is working on a multi-step plan to improve bicycle access throughout the Pike District. In the first phase, MCDOT is upgrading master-planned bike lanes by narrowing road lanes to provide the seven-foot width required for protected bike lanes. On Nebel Street, road travel lanes were reduced in width from 15.5 feet to 11 feet. By working within the existing right-of-way, bike lanes can be added without eliminating travel lanes. 

Subject to funding availability, MCDOT plans to do the same on Old Georgetown Road from Rockville Pike to Nebel Street and on Marinelli Road from Executive Boulevard to Rockville Pike. 

Bicyclists also can anticipate improvements on Marinelli Road from Rockville Pike to Nebel Street and on Woodglen Drive Extended from Nicholson Lane to Marinelli Road. Note: As development moves forward, the developer adjoining Woodglen Drive would complete the network with this connection.

In mid-November, MCDOT will begin work on the first phase of the White Flint West Workaround project – an aggressive plan to establish a denser street grid and narrow roads to enhance urban mobility andprovide a better pedestrian experience.  In the next several years, the project will construct one new road -- Main/Market Street, relocate Executive Boulevard Extended and relocate and improve an intersection at Old Georgetown Road and Towne Road (formerly Hoya Street). The various improvements include new traffic lanes, shared use paths, a separated bicycle lane, on-road bicycle lanes, sidewalks, undergrounding of utilities where required, stormwater management, street lights and landscaping.

As the County continues work in developing Bus Rapid Transit and other transit options, such builds will include similar bicycle and pedestrian connections.  

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Release ID: 16-439
Media Contact: Lorraine Driscoll 240-777-6507