CURRENT ISSUES: TRANSPORTATION

Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc.


APRIL 2021 UPDATE ON I-495/I-270 P3 PROGRAM

The Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc., Transportation Committee held a meeting on Tuesday April 20, 2021, with the Maryland State Highway Administration to give an update on the I-495 and I-270 P3 program.
VIEW SLIDES FROM MEETING

NOVEMBER 2020 MCCF PROGRAM ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

The following presentations were shown at the November 9, 2020, MCCF meeting held online:
■ Presentation on the Purple Line by Matthew Pollack, Executive Director of Transit Development and Delivery for the Maryland Department of Transportation of the Maryland Transit Administration.
VIEW POLLACK PRESENTATION
■ Presentation by Kevin Quinn, Administrator of the Maryland Department of Transportation at the Maryland Transit Administration, on COVID-19’s impacts on transit and adjustments that have been made to date.
VIEW QUINN PRESENTATION

TRANSPORTATION DATA 2020

As requested at the March 9, 2020, MCCF meeting, Jerry Garson, Transportation Committee Chair, is making available data he’s compiled on local transportation, including vehicles on local roads (hourly/daily) and ridership on both Metro trains and buses as well as RideOn.
VIEW EXCEL FILE

NOVEMBER 2019 MCCF PROGRAM ON PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SAFETY 11/19

■ 11/11/19 Kristy Daphnis made a presentation at the monthly MCCF meeting on Pedestrian and Bike Safety.
VIEW DAPHNIS PRESENTATION
■ 11/11/19 The County Planning Department made a presentation on its Pedestrian Master Plan at MCCF’s November monthly meeting.
VIEW PLANNING DEPT. PRESENTATION

PEPCO PRESENTATION ON FUTURE SHARED USE PATH

The PowerPoint presentation below on Recreational Access to the Pepco Transmission Corridor was sent to MCCF by Jeff Dunckel, Pedestrian Safety Coordinator for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.  It was presented to the public on October 6, 2016 (date on page one is incorrect).
VIEW DUNCKEL PRESENTATION

MCCF’S ITA-BRT RESPONSE

On 1/7/16, MCCF published a “Response to County Executive Isiah Leggett’s Proposal for an Independent Transit Authority/Bus Rapid Transit System,” prepared by the Transporation Committee.
READ MCCF RESPONSE

SEPTEMBER 2015 MCCF PROGRAM ON PROPOSED INDEPENDENT TRANSIT AUTHORITY

■ Part 1:  Background on Proposed BRT and ITA
■ Part 2:  Discussion of Alternatives
VIEW PART 1
VIEW PART 2
VIEW PRESENTATION SLIDESHOW

APRIL 2015 MCCF PROGRAM ON TRANSPORTATION OF THE FUTURE

■ Part 1 demonstrates how increased capacity cannot solve congestion.
■ Part 2 includes Houston’s “Reimagining Transit” project.
VIEW PART 1
VIEW PART 2

LONG-TERM REPAIRS ON RED LINE TUNNEL

On 10/9/14, WMATA released a “Summary of Long-Term Repairs on Red Line Tunnel Between Friendship Heights and Medical Center Stations.”  Repairs to solve the problem of water infiltration at the Medical Center station are tentatively scheduled to take place during 14 weekend shutdowns of the affected section of track, starting in Summer or Fall of 2016.
VIEW WMATA DOCUMENT

2014 MOBILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT

On 4/17/14, the draft 2014 Mobility Assessment Report was presented to the Planning Board.
VIEW PLANNING | LAND USE ISSUES

BICYCLE SAFETY | INFRASTRUCTURE

On 10/14/13, MCCF adopted three resolutions regarding bike safety campaign, MCPD bike patrol activities, and improving bicycle infrastructure.
VIEW MCCF RESOLUTIONS

POWER LINE ROW WALKING | BIKE PATHS

On 4/10/13, the Civic Federation sent a letter to PEPCO seeking permission for pedestrian and bicycle paths through power line rights-of-way.
VIEW MCCF LETTER

DESIGNATED BUT UNMAINTAINED ROADS

On 2/3/12, the Civic Federation sent a letter to Council staff and the Council President urging FY13 Capital Budget funding for construction of “Designated But Unmaintained Roads.”
VIEW MCCF LETTER

2011 COUNTY PARKING POLICY STUDY

A Montgomery County Parking Policy Study has been conducted by M-NCPPC and the county Dept. of Transportation, working with the contractor for the study, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates.  The “Study Summary,” dated Spring 2011, was released jointly to the Council PHED and T&E Committees on 3/31/11.
VIEW PARKING STUDY SUMMARY

2011 ROADSIDE SOLICITATIONS BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES

On 5 April 2011, a bill banning certain roadside solicitations was introduced in County Council.  Bill 12-11 would prohibit county employees from standing in a roadway, median strip, or intersection from soliciting charitable donations while “on the clock.”  MCCF urged approval of bill at May 3 Council hearing.
VIEW CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
VIEW MCCF ARTICLE ON COUNTY BILL
■ On 6/21/11, Council decided not to take vote on the bill; will wait to see effectiveness of DFRS memo to firefighters to not stand in roadway during “Fill the Boot” campaign on Labor Day 2011.

2011 STATE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS PRIORITY LIST

On 15 February 2011, the County Council will consider approval and transmittal of a “State Transportation Projects Priority List.”
VIEW STAFF PACKET
■ Council made changes to draft letter on 2/15/11; County Executive approved changes, and final version was emailed to State on 2/17/11.
VIEW FINAL LETTER

BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT)

On 01/24/2011, the County Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee (T&E) received a briefing on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
VIEW STAFF PACKET FOR BRT BRIEFING
■ On 8/3/11, the study of a possible county Bus Rapid Transit system, initiated by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), was released for download from MCDOT’s website.
VIEW BRT PRESS RELEASE
VIEW BRT STUDY
■ On 7/18/13, Planning Board adopted Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan containing recommendations for route alignments for a new BRT system; 7/25/13, Board transmitted their recommended version to Council.
■ Council public hearing scheduled for 9/24/13 and 9/26/13, starting at 7:30 p.m. both evenings.

TRANSIT TASK FORCE (TTF)

On 2/24/11, County Executive Leggett announced the appointment of members to his newly created “Transit Task Force.”
VIEW TRANSIT TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE
VIEW MCCF ARTICLE ON TRANSIT TASK FORCE
VIEW TRANSIT TASK FORCE WEBPAGE
■ On 5/22/12, the Transit Task Force transmitted their Final Report and Recommendations for a $1.8b 160-mile countywide RTV (Rapid Transit Vehicle) system to the County Executive and released it to the public.
VIEW FINAL REPORT
■ On 6/7/12, the Task Force briefed the Planning Board on the Final Report in context of revision of Master Plan of Highways which is currently underway.
VIEW PLANNING STAFF PACKET
■ On 6/12/12, the County Council received a transit briefing including updates on the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, and the Transit Task Force Final Report.  To view individual updates, click on underlined titles/links shown under Item 5 on Council agenda for 6/12/12:
VIEW COUNCIL AGENDA FOR 6/12/12
■ On 6/28/12, the Civic Federation sent a letter to County Executive Leggett regarding the failure to allow public comment prior to release of the Transit Task Force Final Report, as was called for in the TTF Work Program, and suggesting a course of remedy.  MCCF President Barth reminded Mr. Leggett of his 2006 Inaugural Address pledge to establish a transparent, citizen inclusive form of government:
VIEW MCCF LETTER
VIEW MCCF TRANSMITTAL EMAIL
■ On 7/9/12, the MCCF Transportation Committee hosted a briefing to education Federation members and the public on the Transit Task Force Report and recommendations.
■ On 7/12/12, County Executive Isiah Leggett and the Transit Task Force he created held a public hearing on the TTF Final Report of Findings and Recommendations, which was released on May 22.  The record remained open until July 26 for individuals and groups who wished to submit written comments.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE ON HEARING
VIEW TRANSIT TASK FORCE WEBPAGE
VIEW TTF FINAL REPORT
■ In fall 2012, county formed a Rapid Transit System (RTS) Steering Committee to advise the Chief Administrative Officer and County Executive on implementation of an RTS in the county.  The Steering Committee has 16 voting members, including 3 members from the CE’s Transit Task Force, 2 public members who are transit experts, a number of county department heads, and representatives from WMATA and MD Dept. of Transportation.  On 12/4/12, the Committee held a kick-off meeting.
VIEW MEETING PRESENTATION
■ On 11/17/12, Council introduced $1 million Supplemental Appropriation to FY13 Capital Budget requested by County Executive, for Mo DOT to conduct further studies on Rapid Transit System; Council held a hearing on Supplemental request on 1/15/13; T&E Comm. worksession scheduled for 1/17/13.
VIEW STAFF PACKET FOR WORKSESSION
■ 11/12/12  County Executive Leggett announces county can’t afford proposed bus network.
VIEW EXAMINER ARTICLE
■ On 11/12/12, County planners consider taking lanes of roadways for buses only.
VIEW WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE
■ On 11/17/12, Leggett requested from Council a $1 million Supplemental Appropriation to county FY13 Capital Budget for further studies on Rapid Transit systems.
VIEW EXAMINER ARTICLE
Council held public hearing on 1/15/13; T&E Comm. held worksession on 1/17/13 — staff packet included breakout of requested expenditures, including $75,000 for 6 months salary to hire a manager to oversee the studies, a new position.
VIEW COUNCIL STAFF PACKET
■ On 1/22/13, Council approved only $500,000 – $450,000 to study service planning and integration and transit signal priority, and $50,000 for initial salary to hire manager (vote 8-1, Councilmember Floreen voting against).

2013 TRANSIT CORRIDORS FUNCTIONAL MASTER PLAN

On 7/18/13, the Planning Board adopted Draft “Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan,” containing recommended route alignments for new BRT system, and transmitted to County Council.
■ 9/24 & 9/26/13, Council held hearing on Board’s Draft Plan; T&E Comm. sessions 10/7 thru 11/5/13.
■ 11/26/13 Council approved the Plan, with amendments, by unanimous vote of members.


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