Duncan Proclaims Try Transit Week In Montgomery County; Celebrates Silver Spring Transit Center Project

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/trytransit.pr 00-331

Contact: William Selby, 240-777-5800
Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530

For Immediate Release: September 11, 2000

DUNCAN PROCLAIMS TRY TRANSIT WEEK IN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY; CELEBRATES
SILVER SPRING TRANSIT CENTER PROJECT

To complement national efforts this week to promote transit use, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today proclaimed the week of September 10-16 'Try Transit Week' in Montgomery County and announced special transit promotions at a kick-off celebration for Phase I of the new Silver Spring Transit Center. Earlier in the day, Duncan took the Metro from Rockville to Bethesda and then rode the free Bethesda 8 shuttle with Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari to promote this downtown circulator bus as a model for the rest of the state.

"Public transportation is a critical element in our efforts to reduce traffic congestion," said Duncan. "I urge citizens to join me in sharing a ride or using Ride On bus, Metrorail, Metrobus, Mass Transit Administration buses or Maryland Rail Commuter systems during Try Transit Week to see for themselves how easy and convenient commuting by transit can be."

As part of the continuing efforts to revitalize downtown Silver Spring, county, state and federal officials have been planning ways to use public transportation to further improve the livability of the community. The Mass Transit Administration's (MTA) project for Phase I of the Silver Spring Transit Center will relocate MARC commuter rail service to the County-owned site next to the Silver Spring Metro entrance and construct a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks. The County's Phase II project will build a transit center facility with bus bays serving County Ride On buses, Metrobuses, and inter-city buses and about 10,000 square feet of retail space. Both Phase I and Phase II of the new Silver Spring Transit Center are scheduled to be completed in 2003. Costs for the project are $8.3 million for Phase I and $48.9 million for Phase II. MTA's share of the projects is $8.3 million and the federal government will spend $33.3 million.

Joining Duncan at the kick-off celebration for Phase I of the Silver Spring Transit Center were Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari, Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Acting Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration Nuria I. Fernandez, Representative Albert R. Wynn, Representative Constance Morella, County Council President Michael Subin, State Senator Ida G. Ruben, WMATA General Manager Richard A. White, WMATA Board Members Carlton Sickles and Cleatus Barnett, and other officials.

Early today, Duncan and Porcari rode the Bethesda 8 shuttle bus that provides free service in downtown Bethesda every weekday. The bus runs about every eight minutes and gives commuters and lunch time shoppers a convenient way to get around without using their car. Starting September 25, the Bethesda 8 will begin operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to extend service to early morning commuters.

The schedule of events for Try Transit Week are:

Monday is Livable Communities Day, when Duncan and Porcari ride the Bethesda 8 shuttle bus and celebrate the start of construction for the Transit Center in Silver Spring.

Try Transit Day is Tuesday and Ride On will offer special one-way fares of $.25 on all buses. This is the same fare that was charged in 1975, the year Ride On was created. Regional Passes sold on Ride On buses will be specially priced at $1.50.

A Ride On free giveaway is planned for Transit Appreciation Day on Wednesday. Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) staff will hand out bus pass holders, some with hidden Ride About Two Week Passes, to customers during the morning rush hour at 22 locations. The passes are good for the weeks of September 24 through October 7. DPWT Director Al Genetti, Jr. and Acting Division Chief of Transit Services William Selby will be distributing passes at the Rockville Metro Station between 8 and 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, the Commuter Express Store in Silver Spring will provide refreshments to customers purchasing bus passes.

Friday is Transit to Work Day and Montgomery County residents will be encouraged to take transit to work.

For more information, call Ride On at 240-777-7433 or check the website at www.rideonbus.com.

# # #

News Releases | News