Montgomery County to Provide Free Bus Shuttles During Metro SafeTrack Surges

Ride On will provide the transportation around sections of Red Line under repair

By Aaron Kraut

Montgomery County will provide free Ride On shuttles during Metro SafeTrack surges that affect local commuters Aaron Kraut

Montgomery County will provide free bus shuttles to areas affected by Metro’s SafeTrack repairs in August and October.

The county’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) on Friday announced the free Ride On shuttles will operate during three of the Metro “safety surges” that could most affect county commuters and residents.

The first, from Aug. 1-7, will bring continuous single tracking to the Red Line between the Silver Spring and Takoma stations.

Ride On will provide the free shuttles every 10 minutes during peak travel times between the Silver Spring and Fort Totten stations, so riders can connect to the Green Line at Fort Totten. The shuttle service will include a stop at the Takoma station in between Silver Spring and Fort Totten.

During the same period, Ride On will also provide free shuttles every 10 minutes during peak hours on the other side of the Red Line, between the Grosvenor and Friendship Heights stations, with stops in between at the Medical Center and Bethesda stations.

From Aug. 9-18, when the continuous single tracking moves to the Red Line between the Twinbrook and Shady Grove stations in Rockville, Ride On shuttles will use I-270 to travel back and forth from the Grosvenor and Shady Grove stations.

Ride On will also add more buses to the system’s regular Route 46 that provides service to the Grosvenor, White Flint, Twinbrook and Rockville stations. With the additional buses, service will be available every 10 minutes. The regular Ride On fares will apply.

From Oct. 10-Nov. 1, as Metro embarks on a total shutdown of the Red Line between the NoMa-Gallaudet University and Fort Totten stations in Washington, D.C., Ride On will provide free shuttles every 10 minutes during peak travel times between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Fort Totten, with a stop at the Takoma station.

Metro will also be providing its own bus shuttles between Fort Totten and NoMa-Gallaudet.

The county said it could provide the free shuttles by keeping as many as 17 recently replaced buses in service.

MCDOT also said its plans could change if Metro’s SafeTrack plans change.

“Montgomery County residents and employees are going to be significantly impacted by SafeTrack and that is why I have directed MCDOT to take the lead in doing what we can to mitigate these effects—not only for Red Line riders but for all travelers in the county,” County Executive Ike Leggett said, according to a press release announcing the plan.

The county’s SafeTrack response might also include restricting on-street parking on certain stretches of road that could receive extra traffic due to the Metro repairs. The county said it plans to focus the work of its Transportation Management Center on those SafeTrack-affected corridors, potentially changing traffic signals or providing faster responses to disabled vehicles.

MARC agreed to MCDOT’s request to add cars to its existing train lines during peak periods. Capital Bikeshare will offer a $2 one-time use option and the county said Metro has committed 40 additional buses of its own to enhance service in surge-affected areas.