Ride On Fares to Increase March 1; Proposed Ride On Route Changes Avoided

Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system will change its fares on March 1 to coordinate with the introduction of a new fare structure by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro). The Ride On fare changes are designed to make transfers between Metrobus and Ride On simpler and less confusing by keeping fares for the two transit systems compatible. Changes include an increase of 10 cents per trip (from $1.25 to $1.35 for fares paid with a SmartTrip® Card and from $1.35 to $1.45 for fares paid with cash or tokens).

Other fare changes that begin March 1 will:

• Increase Metrorail to Ride On transfers from 75 cents to 85 cents.

• Increase the Ride On Day Pass from $3.00 to $3.20.

• Increase the Ride On express route fare for Route 70 (Milestone in Germantown to Bethesda) from $3.00 to $3.10 with a SmartTrip® Card, and from $3.10 to $3.20 for fares paid with cash or tokens.

In addition, a change to the Call and Ride program will allow low income residents to continue to purchase two books of taxi vouchers worth $60 for as little as $5.25 in March and May, and one book in April and June.

To help close the County’s projected budget gap of more than $600 million for fiscal year 2010, the elimination of some of Ride On’s routes was proposed beginning March 1. However, additional revenues were identified, including the coordination of fare increases from Metro, so these route eliminations have been avoided for this fiscal year that ends June 30.

For more information, go to Ride On’s website at www.RideOnBus.com or contact the Transit Information Center at 240-777-RIDE (7433).

February 2010 Newsletter

Click here to view my February 2010 Newsletter.

Topics in this issue, include:

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Montgomery Council Retains Ride On Bus Routes in Approving $70 Million Savings Plan
Reproductive Health Services Report
Crisis Pregnancy Center Regulation
Disability and Veteran Hiring Bill
White Flint + Gaithersburg West Master Plan Updates
Youth Town Hall
In the News
Duchy in the Community
Census 2010
Alert Montgomery
The Family Justice Center
Duchy's Recipe
Stay in Touch
Trachtenberg Staff News
Duchy's Pledge

Trachtenberg Office Attends Western Montgomery Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

Naomi Bloch represented the Trachtenberg office at last night’s meeting of the Western Montgomery Citizens’ Advisory Board meeting which took place at the Rockville Library located at 21 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

There was a very full agenda that included presentations from several different speakers including:

Chief Treschuk of the Rockville Police Department; Acting Commander John Hack, Montgomery County Police – 1st District Station who updated everyone on some of the most concerning trends in the county. Two issue areas of particular concern: the rise in the theft of GPS units from cars and the ongoing problem of daytime residential robberies in Potomac.

Mr. Hamid Omidvar from the Department of General Services updating us on the plans for the Circuit Court Annex as well as a general overview of the Government Core Facilities Master Plan Study.

Mr. Fred Lees, from the Department of Transportation, talked about the recently completed Rockville Pike Pedestrian Safety Audit. The primary area of focus for the audit was from Bou Road down to Randolph Road. This was because this is where the highest numbers of pedestrian accidents have been occurring. No final decisions have been made as to the extent of the final changes but Mr. Lees did say that better lighting and signage would certainly be one area that will be upgraded.

Ms. Jenny Kimball, Assistant City Manager told us about the Rockville Neighborhood Resources (RNR) Program which exists to better connect the communities and the Rockville City government. For more information about this program: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/

Finally we heard from Mr. Philip Mclaughlin from Ride On with his update about the recent concerns about eliminating bus routes. He told us that for the time being, service cuts have been averted for the FY10 budget but that it remains to be seen what future cuts there may be when the FY11 budget comes over from the County Executive on March 15th. He also talked about the challenges from the recent snow storms.

Next meeting of the Western Montgomery Citizens’ Advisory Committee (WMCAB) is March 15th and will take place at the Glen Echo Town Hall, 6106 Harvard Avenue; Glen Echo, MD 20812. For more information: www.Bethesda.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Government to Open on Friday; Ride On Bus Service to Operate on S Service Plan

Montgomery County Government will be open with liberal leave; essential employees must report.

Ride On bus service will operate on an S Service Plan.

Parking regulations in County garages and lots in the parking districts in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills will remain suspended through Sunday.

Solid Waste Transfer Station will open at 7 a.m. The public drop-off areas for recyclables, household hazardous waste and trash, accessed from the Route 355 entrance, will open at 10 a.m. The Recycling Center will be closed to the public. There will be no County-operated residential trash/recycling pickup. Normal collections will resume on Monday, February 15, which is not a trash collection holiday.

County operated liquor stores will be open.

Normal operations will be in effect for all other County facilities, including public libraries and recreation centers. Mongomery County Public Libraries has announced that customers with materials due from February 5 to 13 will have their due dates extended one week. No fines will be charged for the period from February 5 through 13.

The overnight shelters at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown and the Coffield Recreation Center in Silver Spring closed at 4 p.m. today. The overnight shelter at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville will remain open. The high school is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Dr.

Update on Montgomery County Services and Activities for Thursday, February 11; Montgomery County Government Closed Except for Essential Personnel

Montgomery County Government will be closed on Thursday, except for essential personnel. 

Snow Removal Operations
Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has increased to 1,000 the pieces of equipment they are using to plow or remove snow, and they will be clearing primary roads and emergency routes throughout the night.  

Ride On
Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service will not operate on Thursday.   For more information, go to www.RideOnBus.com.

Libraries, Recreation Centers and Liquor Stores
Libraries, recreation and community centers and liquor stores will not be open on Thursday. 

Community Use of Facilities
All activities in schools or County buildings will be cancelled on Thursday.

Solid Waste Transfer Station and Trash and Recycling Pick-Up
The County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday.  County-provided trash and recycling collections will be cancelled Thursday.

Parking in Public Garages and Lots
Suspension of parking enforcement has been extended through Sunday in public garages and lots in downtown Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills.  Residents are urged to take advantage of this free, off-street parking so snow plows can work unhindered.  For locations of these parking facilities, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/parking.

Need for Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles are needed.  To assist, please call the Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 or email volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

Power Outages
Residents without power should call their service provider: PEPCO at 1-877-737-2662, Allegheny Power at 1-800-255-3443 or Baltimore Gas and Electric at 1-877-778-2222.  Residents who have been without power for several days are urged to re-report their outages.

The County continues to operate three shelters for residents without power.  For information about transportation to the shelters, call 240-777-6000.

Residents are urged to take precautions to prevent fires by unplugging appliances during a power outage until power has been restored. 

Emergencies 
For emergencies or to report “hot” or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 911.  To contact Montgomery County Police for non-emergencies, call 301-279-8000.

Downed Trees
To report downed trees in the public right-of-way or roadway, call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Help Clear Fire Hydrants 
Residents can assist Fire and Rescue efforts by clearing fire hydrants of snow so they are visible, or marking them with broomsticks or flags.

Roof Safety
Homeowners should not attempt to clear snow off their roof.  Residents with flat roofs should watch for the warning signs of a potential roof collapse ,such as a sagging or cracking ceiling; popping, cracking or creaking sounds; or doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed. Residents should evacuate their home if they notice any of these warning signs, and call 9-1-1 if their roof collapses. 

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Residents without power should be aware that using gas or charcoal grills, propane heaters and stoves, kerosene space heaters or generators indoors can be fatal. They are a source of carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Avoid using candles or outdoor grills indoors, to prevent the risk of a fire.

Check on Welfare of Neighbors
Continue to check on neighbors, especially those who live alone, are elderly or disabled.  Anyone concerned about the safety and well-being of a neighbor should call the County’s Crisis Center 240-777-4000.

For more information, go to the County’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.  

Montgomery County's Ride On Bus System Will Not Operate on Thursday, February 11

Montgomery County's Ride On Bus system has announced it will not operate on Thursday, February 11.

Ride On is the region's third largest bus system, operating a fleet of 350 buses.

For more information, go to Ride On's website at www.RideOnBus.com.

Winter Storm Update from Montgomery County

Since early Monday, all Montgomery County efforts have been fully focused on 4,128 miles of neighborhood roads – divided into 140 plow routes – with workers and machinery laboring around-the-clock to clear the snow as soon as possible.  

Thousands still remain without power and hundreds of trees are down. The County continues to work closely with PEPCO to provide them with the snowplows, tree crews, and other assistance they need to restore service. 

The shelter at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville, remains open. Transport to the center is being handled by County volunteers with 4-wheel-drive vehicles and by Maryland National Guard members.  Medical emergency calls continue to be handled by Fire & Rescue. 

Montgomery County government will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9, for normal operations, with liberal leave for employees.

Ride On buses will operate on an “S” schedule on Tuesday. Parking enforcement in County garages and parking lots will remain suspended through Thursday.  County liquor stores will be open. The Solid Waste Transfer Station will close at 5 PM on Tuesday.

Given piles of plowed snow along streets and at intersections, County officials urge motorists and pedestrians to continue to exercise extreme caution. Residents should continue to check in on friends and neighbors to make sure they are all right.

If there is an emergency, County residents should call 911. Please do not call 911 with snow plowing questions, as that delays responses to emergency calls.  For snow calls, call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov. To volunteer with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, call 240-777-2600.

Update on Montgomery County Services and Activities for Monday, February 8; Montgomery County Government Closed Except for Essential Personnel

Montgomery County officials have announced the following information for Monday, February 8:

Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has increased from 600 to more than 800 the number of pieces of equipment that are clearing roads in the County.  DOT officials report that all primary roads in the County (divided highways such as Montrose Road or Norbeck Road) have been plowed.  DOT expects to complete plowing of all secondary roads (neighborhood main roads) this evening and begin neighborhood plowing or snow removal operations tomorrow morning.  DOT will make one pass on every neighborhood road before returning to do further plowing or snow removal.  Reaching every neighborhood road generally takes more than one day.

Ride On
Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service will operate under an S Service Plan on Monday.  Residents should expect delays, especially in the morning, and they are advised to check Ride On’s website for detours and other information about the S Service Plan at www.rideonbus.com.  Passengers are urged to exercise extreme caution when walking to and from bus stops.

Libraries, Recreation Centers and Liquor Stores
Libraries, recreation and community centers and liquor stores will not be open on Monday. 

Community Use of Facilities
All activities in schools or County buildings will be cancelled on Monday.

Solid Waste Transfer Station and Trash and Recycling Pick-Up
The County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station will be open on Monday.  County-provided trash and recycling collections will be cancelled Monday.

Parking in Public Garages and Lots
Parking enforcement in public garages and lots will continue to be suspended on Monday.  Residents are urged to take advantage of this free, off-street parking so snow plows can work unhindered.

Drivers and Pedestrians
Snow piles of 10 to 12 feet have been left behind in intersections from snow plowing operations and present signifcant visibility challenges to both motorists and pedestrians.  Drive and walk with the utmost care.  Pedestrians may be walking in roads because of blocked sidewalks, so drivers should expect the unexpected, drive very slowly and keep an adequate stopping distance between vehicles.

County Employees
Montgomery County Government is closed on Monday, except for essential personnel.  

Montgomery County Government Closed on Monday Except for Essential Personnel

Montgomery County government will be closed on Monday except for essential personnel. County Ride On to operate on Monday on "S" service schedule. Libraries, recreation  and community centers, liquor stores will also be closed. Solid Waste Transfer Station will open. No County residential trash and recycling pickup. Parking enforcement in County garages and lots remains suspended. MCPS, Montgomery College will be closed. All activities in schools, County buildings cancelled.

Montgomery County Council to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed RideOn Fare Increase

January 26, 2010—The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing on proposed RideOn fare increases at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, in Rockville. County Executive Isiah Leggett has proposed increasing RideOn fares by 10 to 20 cents.

The hearing will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The hearing will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The live broadcast also can be viewed via streaming through the County Web site at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/.

Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to speak at the public hearing should register by calling 240-777-7803 on or before Feb. 3 by 5 p.m. Speakers will be asked to provide a name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization, if any, they represent. Sign language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but not less than 72 hours prior to the date of the hearing. Large print format is also available upon request.

Comments on the proposed Ride On fare changes may be written or e-mailed to the Montgomery County Council by the close of business on Feb. 5. Comments can be mailed to: Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Comments also can be e-mailed to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Trachtenberg Office Attends County Executive’s Budget Forum at Leisure World

Naomi Bloch represented the Trachtenberg office last evening at the County Executive’s Budget Forum that was hosted by the Mid-County Citizens’ Advisory Board at Leisure World in Silver Spring. This was the third in a series of five budget forums that County Executive Ike Leggett has been conducting throughout out the County during the month of January.

After a presentation of the budget by Beryl Feinberg of the Executive’s office of Management and Budget, Mr. Leggett took questions from the audience. There were questions about the critical need not to cut the libraries budgets any further as use of the libraries is on the rise in these tough economic times; questions about the ambulance fees and concerns about the elimination of some bus routes in Olney, are just a few of the key questions the audience had for Mr. Leggett. The turn out was good and several in the audience expressed their appreciation to Mr. Leggett for holding these budget forums.

After the budget discussion ended the Mid-County Citizens’ Advisory Board conducted a brief Board meeting. After brief remarks from Sharon Dooley concerning bus Route 52 and Route 53 in Olney being slated for elimination, the Board voted to testify in support of those two bus routes at the Public Hearing to be held on Monday, February 1st in the cafeteria of the Executive Office Building. The Board also voted to have the Traffic Committee study the five other routes under threat and then present their findings to the full board at the next meeting.

Ride On to Hold Public Forum about Proposed Service Cuts

Montgomery County invites residents to attend an upcoming public forum and provide comment on proposed changes to Ride On’s bus service. Montgomery County is faced with a projected budget shortfall of $600 million for Fiscal Year 2011. To help close the gap, the County is proposing to reduce and/or eliminate Ride On routes that have the fewest riders or those where other alternative service is available. All comments will be considered before any route changes are finalized.
The forum will be held on Monday, February 1, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Executive Office Building Cafeteria, Terrace Level, located at 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, Maryland. In case of inclement weather, the public forum will be held on Tuesday, February 2 at the same location.

Proposed route changes include discontinuing weekday routes 3, 21, 30, 33, 36, 52, 53 and 81; discontinuing Saturday routes 14, 23, 29, 43, 45, 83, 98, L8, T2, Z2; discontinuing Sunday routes 29, 38, 83, L8, T2; discontinuing weekday route segments on Route 7: west of Georgia Avenue and reverse of rush hour east of Georgia Avenue, Route 22: Elton Road extension, Route 32: Woodrock extension and Route 43: Fallsgrove branch; and weekday rush hour trip reductions to Routes 22, 43 and 93.

By close of business on January 25, individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to speak at the public forum should provide, in writing, their name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address and organization to the Division of Transit Services, Ride On Public Forum, 101 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Those who have signed up to speak must bring two printed copies of their testimony for the record. Sign language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no later than January 27. Large print format is available upon request.

Comments on the proposed service changes and reductions may be provided to the Division of Transit Services by 5 p.m. on January 29 in writing, by emailing mcdot.rideonpublicforums@montgomerycountymd.gov, by calling 240-777-5800 or faxing 240-777-5801. For additional information on the proposed changes, go to the Ride On website at www.rideonbus.com and click “visit here” under “Riders’ News.”