Planning Board Approves Rapid Transit System
The Montgomery County Planning Board Unanimously approved a master plan for the Montgomery Rapid Transit System on July 11. Transit advocates hailed the Planning Board’s decision, noting that with Montgomery projected to add more than 200,000 people in the coming decades, it is critical to invest in new transit infrastructure now.
“This plan is one of the most extensive and progressive transportation plans of any suburban community in our region, and is in keeping with Montgomery County’s record of innovation in land use transportation and housing policy,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
“Rapid Transit represents Montgomery’s best, most affordable option for providing needed traffic relief to residents,” Schwartz said. “The old model of building ever more and wider roads for cars has not worked; we have to figure out how to move more people, more sustainably, with the infrastructure we have and Rapid Transit will do that.”
The plan lays the groundwork for a high quality transit network, based on successful bus rapid transit systems around the country, which would connect the County’s key economic and commercial centers, many of which are not currently served by Metro. The service would operate like Metrorail on county roadways, including features like dedicated lanes, comfortable stations, off-board fare payment, and frequent, speedier service to provide commuters relief from some of the longest commute times in the nation.
After reviewing hundreds of public comments, the Board spent many hours making edits and additions to this long range plan. One key change was the inclusion of a “performance standard” that would help ensure the County commits to a high level of transit service.
Kelly Blynn, Montgomery County Transit Organizer for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, highlighted that piece, noting that it was a break from the thinking of the past that often unfairly shortchanged transit.
“In order for this plan to be successful, we must be willing to place transit on equal footing with cars, and dedicate car lanes to transit where it can move more people than individual vehicles can,” Blynn said.
However, Blynn expressed concern that other new language in the plan, pressed by the State Highway Administration, would place too high of a standard on moving cars through without considering a more proper standard of what approach would move the most people. “It’s something we will be monitoring,” said Blynn.
In addition, the Board increased the size of the network, adding a critical connection on the map to Clarksburg, a planned community in need of transit options. Upcounty activists cheered the move.
“The Upcounty is the fastest growing region of Montgomery County,” said Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board member Beth Daly. “The extension of Rapid Transit north on 355 is a step in the right direction to for Clarksburg residents, offering them an express transit option to get to Shady Grove Metro and work centers quickly.”
The Board will now send its recommendations, officially known as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan to the County Council, who will review the plan starting in September. The plan will most likely first be reviewed by the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, and then move to the full Council.
Learn more at the Planning Board website.
Additional Coverage:
Officials Break Ground on Bus Rapid Transit
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett joined state and other county-elected officials early Thursday to break ground for the county’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that will operate on US 29. According to county officials, US 29 is busiest transit corridor in Montgomery County. Starting in 2020, the 14 mile, 11-station BRT will run between […]
Five Things to Know for March 20 in Montgomery County
Here are five things to know today, Tuesday, March 20 in Montgomery County: 1. Spring Equinox: Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere begins at 12:15 p.m. 2. Winter Weather Advisory: And while the first day of spring may be marked on the calendar to begin today, residents should expect winter weather instead of warmer temperatures. A Winter […]
Five Things to Know for March 15 in Montgomery County
Here are five things to know today, Thursday, March 15 in Montgomery County: 1. County FY 19 Operating Budget: County Executive Ike Leggett unveils his recommended Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget at noon. Watch online at Ch6 (Comcast & RCN), Ch 30 (Verizon) or on the MyMCMedia website. Join the conversation on Twitter, use #mocobudget19. […]
Montgomery Plans Open Houses for U.S. 29 BRT
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is hosting three upcoming open houses to keep the public informed regarding the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line being developed along a 13.5-mile stretch of U.S. 29 between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Burtonsville. The new line is expected to begin service in 2020 and will be […]
Five Things to Know for Nov. 15 in Montgomery County
Here’s five things to know today, Nov. 15, in Montgomery County: 1. Transportation Priorities?: Monthly meeting of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board. They will review the results of an analysis that looked at a set of 10 initiatives to determine if they addressed regional transportation challenges, such as congestion and safety. A new northern bridge crossing […]
Bus Rapid Transit Is Coming to MoCo. Here's What You Need to Know
Residents will have the opportunity to learn about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in three upcoming open houses hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. The BRT is a new transit option for commuters along a 13.5 mile stretch on U.S. Route 29 between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Burtonsville. Similar to […]
Five Things to Know for Sept. 12 in Montgomery County
Here’s your daily rundown for what’s happening today, Sept. 12, in Montgomery County, Maryland: 1. Lyons Sisters: Lloyd Lee Welch goes on trial in Bedford County, Virginia, for the deaths of Sheila and Katherine Lyon, who were last seen leaving the Wheaton Plaza in 1975. 2. Re-entering the Work Force: One of four seminars that […]
Berliner Delays Vote on Bus Rapid Transit Proposal (VIDEO)
Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner said Monday that he has delayed a vote on bus rapid transit on U.S. 29, waiting for the county’s Department of Transportation to fulfill the council’s desire for public engagement on the project. “When we took up the BRT master plan … one of the most important issues was […]
Council President Roger Berliner Meets with Reporters (VIDEO)
Council President Roger Berliner discussed the impending release of County Executive Ike Leggett’s budget and how President Trump’s budget would affect Montgomery County. He also talked about the Tobytown cemetery and funding for the Corridor Cities Transitway and Bus Rapid Transit. He also described an upcoming letter from U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and District 16 […]
Engage us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Tweets by @mymcmedia