Thrive Montgomery 2050 aims to expand transportation choices in Montgomery County by making walking, rolling, bicycling and transit safer, more comfortable, efficient and appealing. In downtowns and town centers, such as Wheaton and Germantown, a dense mix of land uses, slow motor vehicle travel speeds, frequent safe crossings, and high-quality walkways and bikeways will make walking, rolling, and bicycling the preferred modes of travel. Reliable, frequent, high-capacity transit will link the County’s downtowns and town centers, transforming high-speed arterial roadways into revitalized multimodal boulevards. In suburban areas, high frequency local bus service and bikeways will expand alternatives to driving by connecting people to bus rapid transit and rail networks. Traffic-calmed neighborhood streets will encourage children to walk and bicycle to school. In rural communities, travel by automobile will continue to be the predominant mode of travel, while rural villages will be enhanced by high-quality walking environments.
This vision is part of helping the county create a transportation system that enables all residents to access opportunities, eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries, and reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Key recommendations
- Develop a safe, comfortable and appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.
- Build a frequent, fast, convenient, reliable, safe, and accessible transit system.
- Adapt policies to reflect the economic and environmental costs of driving alone, recognizing car-dependent residents and industries will remain.
- Develop and extend advanced communications networks.