Community invited to learn about the upcoming Bicycle Master Plan beginning with a special focus on the Corridor Cities Transitway station areas.
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is hosting a community meeting on Monday, April 20 from 7-9 p.m. at the Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus (9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850; Academic and Research Building, Room 106-110) to kick off the update to the Bicycle Master Plan as it relates to the planned Corridor Cities Transitway.
At the April 20 meeting, planners will present their approach to the plan, milestones of the process and provide opportunities to give feedback and engage in person and online. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.
RSVP today for the April 20 meeting.
Planners will work from April 2015 until July 1, 2015 on developing a high-quality bicycle network that facilitates access to the planned Corridor Cities Transitway stations from the surrounding communities and ensures coordination and compatibility with the Life Science Center Loop, an off-road trail currently under design by the Planning Department. The goal is to develop a regional bicycle network plan for the Greater Seneca Science Corridor area to maximize the effectiveness of transportation systems currently being planned, and to coordinate these efforts with the City of Rockville and City of Gaithersburg.
Review a map of the Montgomery County Bicycle Master Plan CCT Phase 1 Corridor special focus area.
Starting July 1, 2015, the comprehensive update to the Bikeways Master Plan will be launched to consider the County’s complete bicycle networks and recommendations for access and mobility. The planning process will provide ample opportunities for the community to get involved and offer feedback. Check out the Bicycle Planning web page to learn more.
FAQs:
What is the Bicycle Master Plan all about? Why do we need to revise it?
The goal is to develop a high quality, low stress bicycling network in Montgomery County. The Bicycle Master Plan, first created in 1978, has been subsequently revised in area master plans with the last comprehensive update to the Bicycle Master Plan completed in 2005.
The newest changes to the Plan will focus on the Greater Seneca Science Corridor because development is poised to happen soon in that area. By planning for a high quality bike network now, a higher quality of life will be an option for the Montgomery County community. The Bicycle Master Plan aims to make bicycling a viable option for everyone in the County.
What is the Corridor Cities Transitway? How does it relate to bicycling?
The Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) is a 15-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line operating from the COMSAT facility near Clarksburg to the Shady Grove Metrorail Station. The first phase of the project is 9 miles from Metropolitan Grove to Shady Grove, and is currently proceeding with engineering and environmental analysis. The second phase would extend from Metropolitan Grove to the COMSAT facility, and will be developed as land uses mature and additional transportation funding becomes available.
The CCT project will provide transit service to communities such as King Farm, Crown Farm and Kentlands; and institutional hubs, including the Life Sciences Center and Universities at Shady Grove. The transitway will connect to the District of Columbia and other regional destinations by way of the MARC Brunswick Line at Metropolitan Grove and the Metrorail Red Line at Shady Grove. A high quality bike network can get more people to the transitway stations, allowing for greater mobility.
What is the duration of the planning process?
The update to the Bicycle Master Plan is scheduled to be completed by September 2017. Review the full schedule for this plan:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2015 | Council Review of Work Program |
| July 1, 2015 | Start Work |
| September 2015 | Planning Board Approves Scope of Work |
| March 2016 | Methodology Report to Planning Board |
| November 2016 | Staff Draft |
| February 2017 | Planning Board Work Sessions |
| April 2017 | Planning Board Draft |
| September 2017 | Council Approval |
What will be the final product?
A Bicycle Master Plan will be the final product that will look at the network of bikeways and locations for bicycle storage. It will serve as a guide to facility planning studies and the development approval process.
How can I get involved?
Attend meetings, talk to staff, send us your comments. Contact:
David Anspacher
Functional Planning and Policy Division
david.anspacher@montgomeryplanning.org
301-495-2191
Learn more about Bicycle Planning in Montgomery County.