Montgomery County Seeks Advisory Committee Participants for Bus Rapid Transit North Bethesda and New Hampshire Avenue Corridor Lines

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is seeking applicants to serve on two separate Corridor Advisory Committees (CAC) that will provide feedback on the North Bethesda and New Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, also known as Flash) planning studies.

CAC’s gather important information on local ridership preferences and make recommendations. Participation in the CACs by residents and business owners ensures that a project is being vetted and supported by members of the public.

“For our bus services to innovate, progress and succeed, we must listen to the concerns of our customers,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is imperative that our bus riders are heavily involved in shaping the services we are developing for them and we hope to find a diverse representation of riders to serve on these advisory committees. I encourage residents who use our buses to consider applying. This is a great way to get your voice heard on the transit needs in your community.”

Interested residents can apply by Friday, Feb. 11, to be considered for selection as a member of either the North Bethesda CAC or the New Hampshire CAC.

Originally identified in the 2013 Countywide Transit Corridor Functional Master Plan, the North Bethesda and New Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit corridors would provide high-capacity and high-quality transit connections.

The North Bethesda BRT would run from Westfield Montgomery Mall Transit Center through the Rock Spring office park to a Red Line Metrorail Station. At its eastern end, the BRT would terminate at either the Grosvenor-Strathmore or White Flint Metrorail station.

The New Hampshire BRT would run from the northern Colesville park-and-ride lot, through White Oak and the Takoma Transit Center and would terminate at the District line.

“Our Flash bus system is an affordable, modern Bus Rapid Transit line that combines features of a bus and a light rail system,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “These projects are important because they allow for equitable mobility and faster, easier connections within our County.”

BRT features include:

• Frequent, reliable service.
• Bus lanes at intersections that allow buses to keep moving, known as “queue jump lanes.”
• Dedicated bus lanes in some parts of the corridor, reducing traffic delays.
• Priority green light signaling, allowing for shorter travel times.
• Near-level accessible boarding at multiple doors, facilitating quick and efficient boarding and exiting.
• Comfortable stations providing weather protection, pre-payment stations and real-time transit information via electronic message boards.
• Community-friendly design with enhanced pedestrian walkways and bike facilities.

MCDOT is moving multiple Flash projects forward simultaneously and work is progressing at different rates. Flash projects for Veirs Mill and Central 355 will be moving into the final planning and construction stages if the County Executive’s recommended budget is approved by the County Council.

Additional information on the Flash and individual project updates can be found here. 

For ongoing updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the MCDOT website and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter here.

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Release ID: 22-080
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta 240-372-2282
Categories: Transportation