Metro, Montgomery County, and Maryland Departments of Transportation Agree to Extend Bus Lane Pilot

The pilot lanes accommodated shuttles during Purple Line construction; Red Line stations reopen Sept. 1.

Almost seven miles of bus-only lanes on state roads within Montgomery County will stay in place through at least December as part of an extended pilot project agreement among the Maryland and Montgomery County Departments of Transportation, and Metro.

The bus-only lanes along Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road were installed this summer to help move shuttle bus customers along faster during the Red Line construction work. More than a million transit customer trips benefited from faster travel times or improved reliability since the bus lanes were implemented, which provided a viable alternative to driving during the Metro shutdown and offset CO2 emissions.

Metro closed a section of the Red Line to allow construction crews to build connections with the Maryland Transit Administration’s Purple Line light rail project. Metro also performed maintenance and station upgrades at the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Takoma Metro stations. The stations are re-opening on time on Sunday, Sept. 1.

While the shuttle operation will end on Aug. 31, several Metrobus and Ride On bus routes, including the Metrobus Y and Q routes, will still benefit from the lanes. The temporary lanes are in effect daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Metro, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation will continue to evaluate the success of the lanes, working collaboratively to alleviate congestion and speed up buses.

“The Moore-Miller Administration is focused on moving people not just vehicles and by continuing to study these temporary bus lanes, we are showing our commitment to providing a safe, equitable transportation system for all users,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These temporary bus lanes are a successful collaboration between the Maryland Department of Transportation, Montgomery County, and Metro and highlight a low-cost project that has a high impact on the communities it serves. Extending the pilot through the end of the year will allow us to evaluate the project’s effectiveness and examine opportunities to speed up buses through additional targeted bus lane improvements in Maryland.”

More than 15,000 average daily riders use the Metrobus and Ride On routes on Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road.

“I appreciate the extension of the pilot project to allow us to explore options for improved and more equitable access along this corridor,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Bus lanes across the region have increased reliability and decreased travel time for bus passengers. We want to improve the service for our existing riders – many of whom are low income, low English proficiency, or have disabilities – and demonstrate to potential new riders that the bus can be an attractive transportation option.”

“We are thankful for the collaboration with Maryland and Montgomery County,” said Metro General Manager Randy Clarke. “Dedicated bus lanes are one of the best tools to move many people through a corridor quickly. We are excited to see the results of this pilot and are encouraged by Maryland’s efforts to increase bus speeds.”

With dedicated lanes, buses don’t get stuck behind other traffic. This summer local bus service moved the fastest it ever has, despite additional bus volumes with the shuttle buses. Meanwhile, travel times for drivers in the corridor remained constant.

During the fall, MDOT and Montgomery County DOT will analyze data and make changes to the lanes to make them more efficient. They will also review how dedicating travel lanes to buses affects traffic when schools are in session and the region’s workers are back from summer travels.

Dedicated bus lanes are the most efficient use of existing roadway space, moving the greatest number of people in a bus in the least amount of space (compared to single occupancy vehicles). It’s also a safer and low-cost way of moving more people through a corridor without widening roads.

The successful implementation of the temporary bus lanes is a testament to the teamwork and partnership between the Maryland and Montgomery County Departments of Transportation and Metro.

This pilot extension is a regional effort by transportation departments to advance faster, more convenient bus service in the Washington metro area.