Posts tagged ‘transportation’
SILVER SPRING – Montgomery County’s traffic congestion has remained at the same level for the past two years, according to the Mobility Assessment Report, a bi-annual study by county transportation planners that monitors local transportation trends.
The Planning Board will consider the report at its meeting on Thursday, October 27.
The mobility assessment, which also measures transit ridership, bike use and pedestrian activity, finds that the county’s network of roads continues to be strained by increasing numbers of residents and commuters relying on cars as their primary means of travel.
To improve the road network, but recognizing that roads alone can’t address congestion, planners are addressing new options, such as expanded transit, bike paths and sidewalks to achieve more sustainable, less congested communities. Moreover, building future homes near transit will create more opportunities for people to avoid driving.
Particularly bad for commuters, according to travel time indexing: southbound US 29 between Howard County and University Boulevard in the mornings and eastbound University Boulevard between Georgia and New Hampshire avenues in the evenings.
The travel time assessment is based on 50 real-time travel observations collected along priority corridors – MD 355/Rockville Pike, MD 185/Connecticut Avenue, U.S. 29/Columbia Pike and MD 586/Veirs Mill Road – that have a history of the greatest congestion. Planners analyze travel conditions by comparing the slowest time traveled along a corridor compared to a vehicle traveling at the speed limit.
The report also ranks the county’s most congested intersections based on critical lane volume data gathered between 2008 and 2011. Critical lane volume data takes snapshots of intersection performance, literally capturing traffic volume at a particular time and place.
The top most congested intersections include:
- Old Georgetown Road at Democracy Boulevard
- Darnestown Road at Riffle Ford Road
- Shady Grove Road at Choke Cherry Lane
- Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane
- Georgia Avenue at Norbeck Road
- MD 355 at Edmonston Drive
- Great Seneca Highway at Muddy Branch Road
- Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road
WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Board
WHAT:
2011 Mobility Assessment Report
WHEN:
Thursday, October 27, approximately 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
# # #
SILVER SPRING – On Thursday, September 22 the Montgomery County Planning Board will review a scope of work for a transportation study that will evaluate corridors, signalization and right-of-way options for a new bus rapid transit network for Montgomery County.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is intended to provide many of the benefits of light rail, such as greater speeds and passenger comfort, at a much lower cost. BRT offers bus priority on dedicated lanes and/or at intersections equipped with priority traffic signals, faster passenger boarding, and speedy fare collection. Successful BRT systems have been built in California, Oregon and other places around the world.
The bus rapid transit study will advance the recommendations of a county rapid transit task force that in August identified 16 corridors covering 150 miles on which the transit system could run. Some of those include MD 355/Rockville Pike, US 29/Columbia Pike and MD 97/Georgia Avenue.
The bus rapid transit network will become part of the county Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, a planning document that guides major transportation projects and any right-of-way requirements.
In the scope of work, planners describe each phase of the project, starting with reviewing the corridors already recommended and assessing the network for ridership potential to determine the level of investment each corridor merits. From there, planners propose to develop illustrations depicting how the proposed transitways and stations are accommodated within the corridors. Another significant task will be to identify where travel lanes might be repurposed or additional right-of-way acquired along corridors to accommodate BRT.
Planners will work with a consultant who will provide technical analysis.
To involve the community throughout the year-long project effort, planners propose to form a technical working group of state and county agency representatives and to hold public meetings to present draft recommendations and collect feedback. Comments also will be accepted at the BRT study webpage.
The Planning Board, which will consider the draft from transportation planners next summer, is scheduled to send its version of the plan to the County Council next September.
WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Board
WHAT:
Proposed BRT study scope of work
WHEN:
Thursday, September 22, approximately 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
# # #
SILVER SPRING, MD – The regional transportation planning board’s chief transportation planner, who focuses on long-range planning for the Washington. D.C., region’s highway and public transportation systems, will address the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, June 18 as part of its 2009 Growing Smarter Speaker Series.
Dr. Ronald F. Kirby, director of transportation planning for the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), will brief the Board, planners and members of the public about ongoing transportation projects as well as discuss land use and environmental implications of those projects. As part of his talk, Kirby will comment on the fiscal sustainability and environmental implications of current mass transit efforts, regional commuter assistance programs and other projects.
Before joining COG in 1987, Kirby directed the transportation program at the Urban Institute, a non-profit policy research organization in Washington, D.C., where he conducted several analyses of the performance of federal highway and public transportation programs. In addition, he worked on a series of policy studies and demonstration projects for the federal Urban Mass Transportation Administration.
With the Planning Board reviewing the state’s Environmental Impact Study for the proposed Corridor
Cities Transitway in early July, as well as a host of other transportation projects, Kirby’s talk is timely.
Kirby is the seventh of a series of speakers who will address the board this year. Continuing education credits have been approved for AICP members.
CM I 1.5 CM credits are
approved for this activity.
AICP members will earn
Certification Maintenance
credits for this activity.
Who:
Montgomery County Planning Department
What:
Ronald Kirby presenting “Analyzing Alternative Transportation, Land Use and Greenhouse Gas Scenarios for Greater Washington”
When:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18
Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters auditorium
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
SILVER SPRING – In a report that provides a snapshot of just how long it takes commuters and others to traverse Montgomery County roadways, county transportation planners have ranked the top 10 most congested intersections and roads as the basis for improvements to the local network.
The Highway Mobility Report provides background to local policymakers like County Council members as they weigh funding priorities to improve area transportation networks. The Planning Board uses the report to make decisions about lane, intersection or crosswalk improvements while reviewing development applications.
It should come as no surprise to county motorists that most congestion occurs along busy north-south corridors Rockville Pike, Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road and east-west connectors like Veirs Mill Road and MD 28. Planners labeled the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Midcounty Highway as the most congested, followed closely by Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane.
Transportation planners calculate congestion by counting cars and determining average traffic volume in each lane at peak morning and afternoon commuting periods.
View the 2009 Highway Mobility Report and the list of most congested intersections and corridors.
In a departure from previous studies, this year’s Highway Mobility Report, which goes to the Planning Board on Monday, analyzes transit use and pedestrian activity to provide a more holistic view of travel in the county. Reflecting national trends, planners found a 5 percent increase in Metrorail ridership between February 2006 and February 2009. Metrorail ridership was highest at those stations located amid a mix of houses and businesses, such as Silver Spring.
Residents also frequent the county Ride On buses, with heaviest ridership –about 8,000 bus passengers daily – on routes running from Silver Spring to Germantown along the I-270 corridor, and among down-county commercial centers. Ridership in 2008 exceeded the number of passengers – measured by daily average boardings – using Metrorail, demonstrating the importance of Ride On buses to how people get around.
For those who travel by car, the report offers some cause for hope. Two projects now under construction will improve highway mobility. The Intercounty Connector will relieve congestion along Norbeck Road, and extending Montrose Parkway across Rockville Pike will improve mobility in North Bethesda. Two of the top 10 intersections – Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane and Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road are recommended for improvement associated with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) project at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Who:
Montgomery County Planning Board
What:
Review Highway Mobility Report and transmit to County Council
When:
Approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 8
Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
RSS