Motorists Can Plan For Winter By Learning Transit Options Now

SS/planb.pr 97-360 Contact: Edward Daniel, 301-217-2976

MOTORISTS CAN PLAN FOR WINTER
BY LEARNING TRANSIT OPTIONS NOW For Immediate Release: Nov. 19, 1997

With winter approaching, Montgomery County's Department of Public Works and
Transporation urges commuters to learn, in advance, how to switch to public transit when
snow or ice is forecast. To help motorists prepare a wintertime "Plan B" alternative and avoid
driving during snow or ice conditions, the department has several suggestions.

TRANSIT PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES
Commuters from areas not served directly by buses can head to nearby transit parking
lots or garages in various areas of the county to board a bus or train. Each of the following
sites have space to handle more cars:
Germantown/Upcounty area:
-- Milestone park-and-ride lot: Park free at Milestone Center on Shakespeare
Boulevard west of MD Route 355 for rush hour express buses to Shady Grove Metro,
or to NIH, Naval Hospital, and downtown Bethesda.

-- Germantown MARC Rail Station: Park free in lots located on MD Route 118 at
the railroad bridge. A new 300-space lot has just been added. MARC trains run
between 5:45am and 8:30am and return in the evening between 4 and 8pm. For
specific train times and fares, call MARC Rail at 1-800-325-RAIL.
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TRANSIT OPTIONS 2-2-2

Gaithersburg:
-- Lakeforest Transit Center: Park free at Odenhall and Lost Knife Road for
Metrobus Route J-9 express buses to NIH, Naval Hospital and downtown Bethesda,
and also frequent Ride On service to Shady Grove Station.

-- Metropolitan Grove MARC Rail Station (behind the State Motor Veicle
Administration building off Clopper Road): Park free for MARC train service to Silver
Spring and Union Station. Trains serve this station from 5:45 a.m. to 8:10 a.m., and
return between 4 and 7:50 p.m.

Rockville-North Potomac:
-- Rockville, Twinbrook and White Flint Metro stations: Excess parking is usually
available at these stations. Parking fee is $2.25. Privately-operated lots are also
available near the Rockville Station.

-- Montgomery Mall Transit Center: Free parking for Metrobus Express Route N-7
to downtown Washington, or use Route J-2 to Medical Center Station.

Georgia Avenue Corridor (Olney/Layhill/Glenmont/Wheaton):
-- Norbeck park-and-ride lot (on MD Route 28, just east of Georgia Avenue): Free
parking, with rush hour buses to Wheaton Metro Station.

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TRANSIT OPTIONS 3-3-3

-- Glenmont Metro Garage: Free parking, with frequent buses on Georgia Avenue
to and from Wheaton Station. The garage entrance is on Georgia Avenue, just north
of Layhill Road.

-- Wheaton Metro Station: Parking is available in the public garage at Reedie Drive
and Amherst Avenue, one block east of Georgia Avenue.

Colesville-Cloverly area:
-- New Hampshire Avenue park-and-ride lot (one block north of Randolph Road):
Park free, with direct Z-2 or Z-3 Metrobus service to Silver Spring Metro.
Cross-County bus service to Wheaton or Twinbrook is available by walking one block
to Randolph Road.

US-29 Corridor (Burtonsville/Fairland/Spencerville):
-- Free parking, with express buses to Silver Spring Metro, are located at various
park-and-ride lots: at Burtonsville, Greencastle, Briggs Chaney Road and near the
intersection of US 29 and Randolph Road.

TRANSIT AND SNOW REMOVAL INFORMATION

More than 100 Ride On and Metrobus routes are available to help Montgomery
County commuters reach their destination. All routes connect to Metro stations and many
also provide convenient cross-county service. Bus fares are $1.10 each way.
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TRANSIT OPTIONS 4-4-4

Commuters can learn which bus routes serve their communities by calling the
County's Transit Information Center. The center is staffed from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on
weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.
Since phone lines are busiest on snow days, commuters are urged to call the Transit
Information Center in advance of the winter season. Free bus maps and schedules, with
personalized route planning, are mailed out on request. The center's phone numbers
are 301-217-7433 for touch-tone callers and 301-217-6434 from rotary phones. The TDD
number is 301-217-2222. From pay phones, callers can make a free call by dialing
1-800-732-3327.
Ride On bus route and schedule information, as well as status reports on snow removal
operations, will also be available on Montgomery County's web site on the Internet. The web
site address is: www.co.mo.md.us
During snow emergencies -- and every weekday during morning and afternoon rush
hours -- up-to-the-minute information on road conditions is provided both on County Cable 55
(channel 5 for cable subscribers who do not use a converter box) and on the County's
transportation advisory radio network, at 590 AM and 1070 AM on the dial.
Live video from traffic surveillance cameras, combined with continously updated
information on road conditions, are provided to County Cable 55 viwers directly from the
County's state-of-the-art Transportation Management Center.

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