Events: Support a new transit system in Montgomery County

To make a positive impact in the community, it’s important to do more than just read about and discuss issues online. We publish our weekly events post to tell you about opportunities to get out and act!

Montgomery County first announced its plan to build a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on Route 29 a year ago. Finally, there is a clear plan from county executive Ike Leggett to get BRT running from Burtonsville to Downtown Silver Spring by 2020.

The $31 million plan ($10 million from a federal grant) includes dedicated lanes, off-board fare collection, frequent service, and upgraded BRT stations. Thanks to frequent and faster service, projections show the system will draw 13,000 daily riders, including roughly 4,000 new transit users, in 2020.

You can learn about this exciting project at one of three open houses over the next few weeks. The first one is next Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 pm at Silver Spring Civic Center (1 Veterans Place). The second is on Monday, March 13 at 7 pm at Montgomery Blair High School (51 University Boulevard East) and the third is on Wednesday, March 15 at White Oak Community Center (1700 April Lane).

Can't make it? Check out these other great events in the DC region:

Tuesday, February 28: As DC updates its Comprehensive Plan, we should be thinking about making the city a more sustainable place. Head over to this month's Tuesdays at APA to learn about a few tools for incorporating sustainability into the Comp Plan and how communities can set and achieve sustainability goals and gain recognition for those achievements. The event is this Tuesday at 5:30 pm at 1030 15th Street NW.

Wednesday, March 1: The stretch of Washington Boulevard between Westover and East Falls Church is getting re-striped, with new buffered bikes lanes running both ways. Get the low-down on the rest of the project and give your input at a public meeting this Wednesday, March 1, at 5 pm in the Large Meeting Room at Westover Library (1644 N McKinley Road).

Friday, March 3: Many cities are encouraging less car use, finding that walkable, transit-friendly communities are good for the economy. This Thursday, hear more about this topic from Peter Newman at a talk about his book, “The End of Automobile Dependence” at George Washington University at 1957 E Street NW at 5:30 pm.

Saturday, March 4: Do you live or play in Rosslyn? The Rosslyn BID and Arlington County are hosting a community workshop to envision how cars, buses, bikes, and pedestrians can better use the street grid. Head over to the workshop from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at Le Méridien Arlington (1121 19th Street) to examine some of Rosslyn’s busiest intersections and work together to come up with pilot solutions to make them flow better.

Saturday, March 4: The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is looking at ways to improve the quality of life in Ward 7 with safer and better transportation options. Head over to the third and final public workshop for the Far Southeast III Livability Study on Saturday, March 4 from 10 am to 12 pm at Nalle Elementary School (219 50th Street SE) to hear the final recommendations for transportation improvements in the study area.