Construction of the Purple Line and Capital Crescent Trail around the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Downtown Silver Spring has advanced on schedule over the past four months. That construction led to temporary relocation of bus stops in the area, but starting Saturday, May 2, the bus stops will return to their original locations in the transit center. At this time, Ride On and Metrobus will continue to operate on essential service schedules that have been in place as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Several Ride On and Metrobus bus stops in the transit center were temporarily relocated to the street in January to safely accommodate work on the Purple Line, the 16-mile east-west light rail line that will connect the Bethesda and New Carrollton Metro stations. That portion of the work has concluded, enabling the return of those stops to the transit center.

Over the next several weeks, there will be updated signage and maps placed around the center and available in the TRiPS Commuter Store on the second level of the transit center. Information also can be obtained from the County centralized information system by calling 311 from within the County or 240-777-0311 from elsewhere. A map of the bus bay locations within the transit center upon reopening can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y9fgxsl4.

Details for each Ride On route remaining in operation under the Essential Service Plan can be viewed at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Transit/essential-plan.html.

Google Maps and other transit apps do not reflect accurate information about bus stop locations and schedules during the health crisis. The Ride On Real Time mobile app shows real time bus locations, but does not indicate which routes buses are serving and cannot provide arrival information by specific routes. The Real Time app can be found at rideon.app/busmap.

For information on changes to Metrobus in and around the transit center, go to https://www.wmata.com.     

Purple Line construction will soon impact another area in Downtown Silver Spring for an extended period. Beginning May 11, Bonifant Street (west), between Ramsey Avenue and Georgia Avenue, will be closed for approximately 18 months—until construction for the Purple Line is completed. Pedestrians are urged to obey signage and stay clear of the work zone. A detour will be established and can be viewed at plmdnews.com/hie.

The construction will require route modifications for Ride On and Metrobuses coming in and out of the second level of the transit center. Most bus stop locations will not be impacted, but the bus stop at Dixon Avenue and Wayne Avenue will be eliminated. Access into the County garages on Dixon Avenue will be maintained. Kiss and Ride will only be accessible via Ripley Street.

For more information about the return to original bus stop locations and general project information for the Purple Line and Capital Crescent Trail, go to www.purplelinemd.com. Construction updates are available directly at https://purplelinemd.com/construction/construction-updates.

The Purple Line will provide a direct connection to the Metrorail Red, Green and Orange Lines. It also will connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services.

# # # 

• County News
  • County Council
  • Fire and Rescue
  • Public Library
  • Police
  • Transportation
• Public Information Office
  • PIO Home
  • Information Officers
  • Publications
  • Film in County
  • Montgomery Updates
  • Performance Plan