Montgomery County Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Ride On Bus Service
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Kate Stewart, other Councilmembers and Federal and State officials celebrated MCDOT’s Ride On bus system’s 50th Anniversary on Friday, May 2 in Wheaton.
Speakers also included Maryland Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, Maryland Delegate Linda Foley, Maryland Delegate Jared Solomon, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo, MCDOT Director Chris Conklin, Maryland Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Joe McAndrew, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Chief Transportation Officer Leroy Jones, Ride On bus operator Ted Oliver, who has been with Ride On for 46 years and lifelong Ride On bus rider Susanne Brunhart-Wiggins.
Ride On provides 65,000-weekday passenger pickups, is the second largest in the region, operates seven days a week and provides over 80 routes with 5,425 bus stops,” said Conklin. “Public transportation is not just about moving people—it’s about connecting our communities and expanding opportunity. It plays a critical role in reducing disparities, supporting economic growth and ensuring that every resident, regardless of background, can access the resources they need to succeed.”
The event showcased wrapped, decorated buses, historical photos of Ride On buses and the winning artwork from the 50th Anniversary middle school art contest.
Montgomery County’s US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Plans Howard County Extension in 2026
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced on Tuesday, May 7, a partnership to expand the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service into Howard County by 2026. The project will build upon Montgomery County’s first BRT corridor, known as Flash, and expand it north to serve four proposed stops in Howard County.
Once completed, this would mark the first BRT service for Howard County, offering high-frequency transit that connects riders to major employment and activity centers across both counties. The extended service would enhance regional accessibility and provide connections to Metrorail, MARC Train and the future Purple Line. The US 29 Flash service currently runs between Downtown Silver Spring and Briggs Chaney with weekday rush-hour service to Burtonsville. The project will add four additional bus stops on the north end of the route in Howard County and provide Flash BRT service to these stops during weekday rush-hour periods.
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Statement by County Executive Marc Elrich on the Death of Ride On Bus Operator Ruiz Bell
I was very saddened to learn about the death of Ruiz Bell, a longtime Ride On bus operator who died the morning of Thursday, May 1 after suffering a heart attack while on the job.
Mr. Bell was behind the wheel of the southbound Route 55 bus when it happened, and even in that moment, he was thinking about the people around him — bringing the bus to a safe stop and preventing what could have been an even greater tragedy. That kind of calm under pressure tells you a lot about the person he was.
Ruiz had been with the County since 2012 and was a proud MCGEO shop steward. He showed up every day for his job, for his riders and for his coworkers. People knew him for his humor, his kindness and the way he made the workday a little lighter — not because he had to, but because that’s who he was.
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$3 Million Public Subsidy Offered as a Last Chance Incentive for White’s Ferry Reopening
Officials from the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and the Town of Poolesville are offering a $3 million incentive to the owners of White’s Ferry and Rockland Farm to reach an agreement to re-open White’s Ferry.
White's Ferry, a historic Potomac River crossing linking Poolesville, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia, has been closed since December 2020 due to a dispute over the landing rights at Rockland Farm on the Virginia side. Prior to its closure, the ferry carried an estimated 600 to 800 vehicles across the river daily and was considered an essential transportation link for recreation, errands and commuting between the two states.
Re-opening the crossing will have an estimated economic impact of more than $9 million annually, according to a 2021 White’s Ferry Operations Study by MCDOT and the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure. The economic impact is calculated from estimated travel time savings, travel cost savings, safety savings, the value of emissions avoided and the value of trips not currently taken.
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Ride On’s Annual Food Drive - Sunday, May 25 Through Saturday, May 31
MCDOT and Manna Food are hosting the annual Give and Ride Food Drive from Sunday, May 25 through Saturday, May 31.
During the food drive, Ride On will be collecting non-perishable food donations on all Ride On buses. Riders who donate non-perishable food items when boarding will be able to ride for free that day.
Non-perishable food items can be dropped off when boarding Ride On, extRa, Flex and Flash buses, at all Regional Service Centers and select libraries and county office buildings. Click here to watch a video on what to donate.
Drop-off locations include:
All donations will go to the Manna Food Center, Montgomery County’s largest food bank. The center distributes nutritious food to those experiencing food insecurity.
Each year, the Ride On food drive collects thousands of pounds of food to support Montgomery County residents. With food insecurity continuing to affect many families, all contributions, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
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Montgomery County Officials Take Part in ‘Bike and Roll to School Day’ at Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring
On Wednesday, May 7, MCDOT joined students and faculty at Forest Knolls Elementary School for a celebratory event in honor of National Bike and Roll to School Day. The event was one of many across the nation to promote biking and walking to schools as a healthier, greener travel alternative and raise awareness of pedestrian safety.
The event was organized by MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program as part of the County’s Vision Zero efforts. County Councilmember Will Jawando and Sierra Gray, legislative aid to Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, joined MCDOT Deputy Director Haley Peckett and MCDOT’s SRTS staff. Also participating was County Vision Zero Coordinator Wade Holland, County police officers, firefighters from the County Fire and Rescue Service, MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra mascot, T-Rec from the Recreation Department and Sparky, the Fire and Rescue Dog.
To learn more about MCDOT ‘s free, local programs and resources, visit MCDOT’s SRTS website. View photos of the event here.
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Free "Safety Day" on Saturday, May 10 in Rockville
MCDOT will host a free family-friendly, student-led “Safety Day” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Carver Educational Services Center located at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The fair will highlight driver, bike and pedestrian safety with interactive and educational experiences including safety demonstrations, games, raffles, prizes, a traffic garden and music.
Safety Day is organized and staffed by local high school students participating in the County’s Vision Zero Youth Ambassador program.
The event is cosponsored by MCDOT, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery County Recreation.
FREE school bus shuttles will run from:
RIDEON buses will run from:
The site is conveniently located near public transportation. See shuttle times and other options on how to get to the event.
Join Regional ‘Bike to Work Day’ on Thursday, May 15
Montgomery County residents are encouraged to register and participate in the regional Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 15. The event is held annually across the nation to celebrate bicycling as a fun, healthy, and climate-friendly way to travel. There will be dozens of free pit stop events throughout the region and 14 within Montgomery County. MCDOT is sponsoring eight pit stops.
Residents biking to work, as well as leisure riders, are encouraged to attend any of the dozens of pit stops throughout the region. Pit stops are free and typically provide refreshments, music and local vendor displays at varying times throughout the morning of May 15. There will be free raffle prizes and a grand prize raffle of a new bike at each of the MCDOT-sponsored pit stops. In addition to the eight pit stops sponsored by MCDOT, there will be six Bike to Work Day pit stops in Montgomery County operated by other organizations.
All participants should visit the Find Your Pit Stop Map to plan a route in advance.
Also, Capital Bikeshare is promoting an offer of $5 off a classic bike or e-bike ride for new riders. Use the code BTWD25 in the app. Terms apply. View this map to find a Bikeshare station near you.
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Free ‘Truck Day’ Event on Saturday, May 17, in Rockville
MCDOT will kick off “Public Works Week” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, with a free, family-friendly “Truck Day” event at the MCDOT Truck Depot and Salt Barn at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. Truck Day invites members of the community to touch, climb, and explore the many first-response, construction, and transportation vehicles used by public works employees.
MCDOT Highway Services employees will be available to answer questions and share how their vehicles work and the role their vehicles serve.
As part of the event, MCDOT will showcase entries in the annual “Paint the Plow” middle school plow naming contest. A total of 11 Montgomery County public middle schools participated in a competition to name and decorate a snowplow. Attendees at Truck Day will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite snowplow name and design. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes for their schools. These popular snowplows are deployed across the region during snowstorms in the winter months.
In addition to the Truck Day event, MCDOT will run a social media campaign to highlight their roles and contributions on X, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook.
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Adult Bike and E-Scooter Classes
MCDOT is offering low-cost adult bike classes and free, walk-up e-scooter classes.
Advance registration is required to participate in the bicycle classes, with a cost of $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) or Capital Bikeshare For All members. However, registration is still required.
The bike classes are open to residents 18 and over, limited to 25 people, and fill up quickly. Online registration for June classes is now open on the WABA website under the classes tab.
Adult Learn to Ride bike classes:
- Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m.-noon. Davis Construction at the Twinbrook Metro Center I, 12530 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.
- Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m.-noon. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.
- Sunday, June 22, 9 a.m.-noon. Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Columbia Pike, Burtonsville.
There is no fee or registration required for the adult e-scooter classes. Walk-ups are welcome. The two-hour adult e-scooter classes are being offered on a drop-in basis and do not require pre-registration. Anyone 18 or over with a valid driver’s license or ID can join. E-scooters and helmets will be provided.
Adult e-scooter classes:
- Saturday, May 24, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Westfield Montgomery Mall former Sears parking lot, 7101 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda.
- Saturday, June 14, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Montgomery College (parking lot 13), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.
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Ride On Bus 50th Anniversary Art Contest Winners Announced
MCDOT is excited to announce the winners of the Ride On 50th Anniversary Art Contest, which recently celebrated 50 years of Ride On bus service in Montgomery County. The contest was open to all Montgomery County middle school students and ran from March 15 - April 15.
After reviewing 96 entries, the winning entry received a $100 gift card, second place entry received a $75 gift card, and third place received a $50 gift card. The first-place winner's artwork will be displayed inside all 400 Ride On buses.
The winning posters and the artists’ names are listed below.
- 1st Place Winner: Laura Jin - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MS
- 2nd Place Winner: Ava Lutgendorf - North Bethesda MS
- 3rd Place Winner: Jenny Gong - Rocky Hill MS
Finalists' art will be featured alongside the top three winners on an art tour around Montgomery County government buildings, details of which will be announced soon. All winners and their art can be found on the Ride On website.
Finalists are listed below.
- Leia Baudoin, Rocky Hill MS
- Arzo Rahimi, Takoma Park MS
- Benjamin Li, Herbert Hoover MS
- Carina Araujo, Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences
- Piper Russell, Thomas W. Pyle MS
- Saanvi Lanke, Shady Grove MS
- Ahyoon Kim, Thomas W. Pyle MS
Herbert Hoover Middle School was the school with the most entries (24) and received a $500 gift card for art supplies.
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Ride On Highlights Transportation Options for Seniors During Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month (OAM) and is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities.
Ride On offers residents aged 65+ free rides all day on all MCDOT Ride On buses, including Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex, and the Flash. Seniors should get the Senior SmarTrip card from any public library, TRiPS store, or the County Treasury office. These cards may also be used for free rides on most Metrobuses within the county.
Senior Center Transportation
Montgomery County Recreation collaborates with Ride On to provide curb-to-curb and fixed route transportation to five Senior Centers (Damascus, Holiday Park, Long Branch, Schweinhaut, and White Oak) and two Active Adult Programs (Germantown and North Potomac) locations. This free service is available to County residents 55 and over residing within the service area for the centers. If you are interested, please call your local Senior Center or the Senior Programs Team at 240-777-4925 for more information.
Transportation from Senior Facilities to Grocery Stores
Ride On, through a partnership with Montgomery County Health and Human Services, provides weekly transportation from various senior living facilities to local grocery stores.
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In-Person Public Open House on New Hampshire Avenue Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Planning Study to be Held on Wednesday, May 14
MCDOT will hold a public open house to discuss the New Hampshire Avenue Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Planning Study. The in-person public open house will focus on the New Hampshire Avenue BRT corridor, which is planned to run from Fort Totten Metro Station to Colesville Road. MCDOT is seeking public input that may influence the outcome of the project.
The open house will allow attendees to engage directly with project team members, view project materials, maps, and ask questions.
Wednesday, May 14 | 6 – 8 p.m. Langley Park Community Center located at 1500 Merrimac Drive in Hyattsville.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online survey. All information provided will become a matter of public record. Learn more about general Flash BRT service and the County’s Flash network plans.
MCDOT is holding a series of informal "pop-up events" at bus stops and other locations along the New Hampshire Avenue corridor to share project information, and residents will have an opportunity to complete a public input survey. View the MCDOT calendar for dates and locations.
Sign up to receive New Hampshire Avenue BRT project updates.
In-Person Public Meetings on MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project to be Held on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21
MCDOT will hold two public meetings to discuss the MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The in-person public meetings will focus on the central corridor, which runs from Rockville to Germantown, and will be the first project section along the MD 355 corridor. MCDOT is seeking public input which may influence the outcome of the project.
The meetings will be conducted in an open house format, allowing attendees to engage directly with project team members, view project materials, maps and ask questions.
Tuesday, May 20 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Gaithersburg Middle School's Cafeteria located at 2 Teachers Way in Gaithersburg.
Wednesday, May 21 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Richard Montgomery High School's Cafeteria located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.
MCDOT is holding a series of informal "pop-up events" at bus stops and other locations along MD 355 corridor to share information on the MD 355 Flash BRT project and residents will have an opportunity to complete a public input survey. View the MCDOT calendar for dates and locations.
MD 355 BRT service will provide upgraded bus service along MD 355 (Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike/Frederick Road), bringing fast and reliable transit service in dedicated lanes, where feasible, to this busy corridor. The project will create new connections and support growth and redevelopment at key activity centers along the corridor including in downtown Bethesda, White Flint, Rockville, and Gaithersburg.
Sign up to receive MD 355 BRT project updates.
Public Can Provide Feedback on the Brink Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project in Gaithersburg Through Friday, May 30
MCDOT’s proposed Brink Road Bridge (No. M-0064) Rehabilitation project, which runs over Great Seneca Creek in Gaithersburg, provides for the restoration of the existing bridge.
The bridge was originally constructed in 1936, reconstructed in 1972 and is in poor condition. MCDOT is working proactively to rehabilitate the bridge before it becomes a safety hazard.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or by email to the Project Manager, ShyanYung Pan at ShyanYung.Pan@montgomerycountymd.gov by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 30. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. All information provided will become a matter of public record.
For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to receive the latest MCDOT news.
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