Advisory
Committee
Opportunities
Individuals interested in helping these areas improve transit and other alternative commute modes of travel are needed.
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You can put your transportation knowledge to the test with Montgomery County Commuter Services’ (MCCS) Transportation Trivia Tuesdays this month.
The weekly trivia series highlights the people, programs and services that keep Montgomery County moving, with new questions released every Tuesday. Along with the opportunity to learn about local transit, participants will be eligible for special prize drawings each week that they submit their answers.
It’s perfect for locals, transit fans, and anyone who’s ever sat in beltway traffic. More information can be found on the Commuter Services Home Page. Stay tuned and get ready to play on Tuesdays!
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Commuter Connections is inviting employers to participate in its second annual goDMV Commuter Competition, set to begin on April 1. This competition is a valuable opportunity to enhance employee morale, reduce parking demand and support sustainability goals. Best of all, participation is free for both employers and employees.
Using the CommuterCash app, employees will log their commutes to earn points for their employer team, redeemable for cash and prizes. Top-performing employers will receive a trophy, a team luncheon and recognition in a future Commuter Connections newsletter.
In 2025, more than 1,200 commuters joined the competition, and even more are expected in 2026. The competition promotes sustainable commuting methods, such as transit, carpooling and biking.
Employer registration is open through February 13. Employers can sign up through this online form. After submitting the form, a Commuter Connections representative will follow up with next steps and answer any questions.
For more information, visit goDMV.org.
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Commuters are receiving an increase to their pre-tax commuter benefit limit. The monthly limit for both qualified transportation fringe benefits and qualified parking in 2026 will be $340, up from $325 in 2025, following changes to national policy.
This adjustment provides greater savings for employees who use pre-tax dollars for commuting costs, including transit passes, parking fees and other eligible expenses.
This change is part of the IRS’s annual inflation adjustments, which aim to keep up with the rising cost of living. Employers offering commuter benefits can help employees take full advantage of this increase to reduce taxable income and support sustainable commuting options.
Montgomery County’s FareShare Program is a subsidy program that makes it easier and more affordable for employers to offer transit benefits to their employees by reimbursing employers for employee commuter benefits less $25, up to the federal maximum.
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Starting February 2, Ride On Flex is expanding with Zone 918, bringing peak-period, on-demand transit service to the Ednor, Sandy Spring, Norwood, and Cloverly communities, as well as along New Hampshire Avenue between Maryland Route 108 and the White Oak Transit Center. This new zone helps riders connect easily to the broader Ride On, Metrobus, and Metrorail network.
What to know before you ride:
- Reservations are required, no walk-ups.
- One reservation can include up to six riders.
- The bus will wait one minute at your pickup location.
- Riders who miss three booked trips may have their registrations suspended.
- Call Center hours are 6 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday.
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Rides must be booked during the service hours of your selected zone.
Getting started is easy:
Download the Ride On Flex app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, enter your pickup and drop-off locations within the zone, and book your ride. No smartphone? Contact the Flex Call Center at 240-301-3842.
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The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) adjusted 36 Ride On bus routes on Sunday, January 11. The changes shifted resources to areas with higher demand, in an effort to improve efficiency and on-time performance.
Key Changes:
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Route Adjustments: Thirty-one routes will have updated timetables, including routes 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 37, 45, 46, 55, 61, 65, 73, 76, 78, 79, 90, 101, extRa Lime, and extRa Pink.
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Bus Bay Changes: Six routes will experience bus bay adjustments, including routes 34, 36, 42, 70, 81, and extRa Pink.
See the new schedules here. Riders are encouraged to review the updated times to plan their trips accordingly.
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Montgomery County’s 2025 Vision Zero report revealed positive transportation safety data, in line with the County’s goal to end injuries on roadways. Key findings included a 29% decrease in serious and fatal crashes on high injury network roads, compared to the County’s previous five-year average.
The report also indicated positive progress for the implementation of the County’s Vision Zero action plan, which outlines steps toward zero roadway-related injuries or deaths by 2030. Led by the work of 20 municipal, county, and state departments and agencies in 2025, the County installed seven pedestrian hybrid beacons and traffic signals, granted $877,500 for addressing roadway and departure crashes, and passed seven safety bills in the Maryland General Assembly, among other accomplishments.
Review the entire fiscal 2025 Vision Zero report here or visit the Vision Zero site to see how the county plans to tackle roadway safety in your neighborhood.
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Montgomery County officials announced plans to relocate and rebuild the Lakeforest Transit Center as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the former Lakeforest Mall site in Gaithersburg. The new transit facility will be located near Russell Avenue and is designed to serve more riders, providing access to eight Ride On bus routes and connecting to the planned MD-355 Bus Rapid Transit network.
According to local news accounts, the redevelopment project, which includes 1,600 housing units and over 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, is set to revitalize the area. The transit center’s design is about 35% complete, with construction expected to begin after the site is prepared by the developer, WRS Inc. The County plans to purchase the land for the new center once initial work is finished.
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Metro announced its planned track work schedule for the first half of 2026, as part of a new program for preventive maintenance and planned capital work. Most of this work is scheduled to occur overnight or on weekends.
Schedule Updates for January:
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Jan. 12-15: After 10 p.m., trains single track between Silver Spring and Forest Glen.
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Jan. 17-18: Trains bypass Silver Spring, station closed.
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Jan. 17-18: Trains single track between Ballston-MU and East Falls Church.
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Jan. 17-19: Trains single track between Navy Yard and L'Enfant Plaza.
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Jan. 19: Trains single track between Silver Spring and Forest Glen.
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Jan 24-25: Trains single track between Judiciary Sq and Union Station.
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Jan 24-25: Trains single track between Ballston and Clarendon.
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Jan 31-Feb 1: Trains single track between Judiciary Sq and Union Station.
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Jan 31-Feb 1: Trains single track between Ballston and Clarendon.
For details about this month’s track work, including projects that may impact your trip, see here.
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Metro introduced new bike lockers at two of its stations, with more lockers on the way for this year. These new app-based bike lockers introduce a cheaper and safer bike storage option for cyclists looking to ride with Metro.
The new bike lockers are open at Metro’s Foggy Bottom and Eastern Market stations. Cyclists can reserve lockers through the BikeLink app for five cents an hour, capped at $1 per day.
The new system replaces Metro’s older annual-rental lockers, which cost about $120 a year. The pay-as-you-go model is designed to give cyclists more flexibility and lower the cost for occasional riders. It also addresses the safety concerns of exposed bike racks.
Metro plans to install 450 bike lockers, 50 oversized lockers for cargo bikes, and 100 self-locking bike racks at 73 rail stations across the region.
Find more information about Metro’s bike lockers here.
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Stressed about navigating winter weather this month? Special provisions to local parking policy should make storing your vehicles simpler this season.
The Division of Parking is ensuring that County-owned parking facilities remain open during snow emergencies, allowing residents to remove their vehicles from the streets. Sidewalks adjacent to public parking facilities will be treated for ice as soon as practical, and snow will be cleared after an accumulation of two inches.
Parking is free in County garages and lots during a declared snow emergency, though normal rates for on-street meters will still apply. Electric vehicle parking rates will remain in effect.
Be sure to sign up for winter weather alerts to stay up to date on snow emergencies, delays and closings.
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