DOT Transportation Engineering Projects
Transit Project
Montgomery County Department of Transportation is introducing a new transit option along the MD 355 corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. The project features dedicated bus lanes where feasible, new stations and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
The project is currently in the 35% design phase.
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MD 355 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is approximately 24 miles with 30 stations. The 24-mile-long County-owned and operated BRT will include approximately 11 miles of fully dedicated BRT lanes and approximately 10.5 miles of roadway widening.
The 30 new stations will include SmarTrip-compatible off‑board fare collection machines, real‑time transit information, and other upgraded amenities.
The MD 355 project will provide convenient world class transit connection between Bethesda and Clarksburg, Maryland, that enhances transit connectivity and multimodal integration with improved operational efficiency and reliability along MD 355.
MD 355 Flash BRT will be implemented in phases to accelerate the delivery of the overall project and expedite benefits to drivers, riders and County residents. The first phase of MD 355 Flash BRT transit service will be the Central segment and focus on a nine-mile portion between Montgomery College-Rockville Campus and the Montgomery College-Germantown Campus.
The Project will provide new transit connectivity, traffic reduction, economic prosperity and quality of life benefits to the Montgomery County region.
Connects residents and communities to local and regional jobs, education, services and destinations, and supports efforts to improve economic stability.
Encourages transit as a primary mode of travel.
Creates a convenient and environmentally sustainable transit connection.
Supports economic revitalization and redevelopment in the Montgomery County region.
Reduces vehicular traffic congestion.
Alleviates growing demand on limited existing streets and roadways.
The MD 355 BRT Project is scheduled to start construction by 2025 and commence revenue service in 2028.
MD 355 Flash BRT Industry Day was held on October 10, 2023. Click to download event documents.
Download the project map to explore proposed roadway, station locations, and bicycle and pedestrian plans. Open with Google Earth. DOWNLOAD PROJECT MAP
The MD 355 Flash BRT will provide a new transit service with greater travel speed and frequency along the MD 355 corridor that:
Roadway conditions, capacity, and expansion constraints vary widely along the 24-mile corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. MD 355 Flash BRT is expected to use dedicated lanes in some sections and operate in mixed traffic in other areas. It will include approximately 11 miles of fully dedicated BRT lanes and approximately 10.5 miles of roadway widening. However, further engineering and design will determine the final locations where dedicated lanes are feasible.
The County does not anticipate significant new parking areas at most Flash BRT stations along MD 355. However, the County is studying where demand for parking will be highest and how best to accommodate increased parking demand to support ridership.
MD 355 Flash BRT will use zero-emission buses. The alternative fuel vehicle industry continues to expand and regularly debut new transit vehicle options. The County already owns and operates standard-length all-electric buses. MCDOT will continue to monitor developments in the industry and carefully consider the additional sustainable fuel sources for the MD 355 Flash BRT service once the project is closer to implementation.
Refer to the 35% plans and the project map above for the station locations. See also pedestrian and bicycle facilities that will be available at different locations along MD 355. The County has used public input, as well as federally compliant analysis of the environmental impacts of this design.
A detailed cost estimate for the MD 355 Flash BRT is being developed as part of the current phase of the project.
The full project is funded through final design. Construction funding has been recommended for the segment of the project between Montgomery College – Rockville and Montgomery College – Germantown. For more information, see Central Phase and South/North Phases.