Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 18, 2020

Many restaurants in Downtown Wheaton have started serving patrons at tables in expanded outdoor space on sidewalks. Starting Friday, June 19, Wheaton will launch a “Streetery” pilot project to welcome additional socially distanced dining. Sections of Price Avenue and Elkins Street will be closed to vehicular traffic as restaurants set up seating on sidewalks and into the closed roadways.

Under Phase 1 of the reopening guidelines issued by County Executive Marc Elrich, restaurants and establishments that sell food and beverages for on-site consumption are permitted to serve customers in outdoor seating areas. Phase 2 of County Executive Elrich’s reopening guidelines will go into effect at 5 p.m. Friday, allowing indoor dining with limitations.

Some restaurants will be serving meals to the outdoor tables. Others will have diners order takeout meals and then offer them table space to enjoy those meals.

The Streetery plan was organized by the Wheaton Urban District, the Mid-County Regional Service Office and is part of the “Shared Streets” initiative of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). The plan will include the following:

Closing westbound Price Avenue from Fern Street to Elkin Street. The closure will extend past Elkin Street to the eastbound direction stop line. The north-south crosswalk along Price Avenue will remain unobstructed

Closing Elkin Street from approximately 100 feet north of Price Street to Price Street.

The Wheaton Streetery setup will encourage socially distanced strolls before selecting a place to dine. In many cases, reservations are encouraged.

In addition to the restaurants open as part of the Streetery, other restaurants in the downtown Wheaton area are taking advantage of the reopening guidelines to also offer outside dining.

A complete list of Wheaton restaurants that are open for outside dining and those that are currently open only for pickup and delivery is available at wheatonmd.org/support-local.

The “Shared Streets” initiative of MCDOT is looking at ways to modify existing uses of County-controlled sidewalks, roads, on-street parking and parking lots to provide more space that allows safe, social distanced activity. More information on the initiative is available at montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT/sharedstreets.

The website also includes information on curbside pickup zones for restaurants and retail activity.

In addition to public engagement that has already taken place to support long term planning efforts, there is an active survey seeking input from residents and businesses. The Shared Streets concept follows the County’s Vision Zero plan to reduce severe injuries and fatalities from traffic-related incidents.

For ongoing updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dot, subscribe to MCDOT news releases or subscribe to MCDOT’s Go Montgomery! biweekly newsletter. For other transportation updates, visit MCDOT’s transportation resource page for COVID-19.

For the latest Montgomery County updates during the health crisis, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD

Release ID: 20-123
Media Contact: Hannah Henn 240-777-8389