DOT Transportation Engineering Projects

 
 

Veirs Mill Road Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

bus iconTransit Project

Project Manager:
Michael Mitchell, PE
Division of Transportation Engineering
Transportation Planning and Design
Michael.Mitchell@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-7262

Project Description

The Veirs Mill Road BRT (VMR Flash) will be a 7-mile, limited-stop, branded bus service with twelve stations planned along Veirs Mill Road. The project will transform mobility options by connecting riders to activity and employment centers. This new service will improve transit travel time and increase opportunity for users, including a significant number of minority and low-income riders living along a highly congested corridor. The project will improve passenger transit mobility by connecting riders to high density housing and employment centers and both branches of the Metrorail Red Line. The Veirs Mill Road corridor has some of the highest existing transit volumes in Montgomery County and for that reason has long been considered for upgraded transit.

Where possible, VMR Flash will run in its own lanes to bypass the existing traffic congestion. VMR Flash will use queue jumps and transit signal priority to avoid traffic at select intersections to provide faster and more reliable service. The 12 BRT stations are designed to make boarding buses easier, improving travel time and increasing transit equity. The unique modern stations will provide weather protection, pre-payment stations, and real-time transit information. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridor will make it easier and safer to get to the VMR Flash stations.

Routes / Upcoming Projects:

Related Projects:

 

Render of Montgomery College BRT stop
Flash Veirs Mill Road Logo

Project Map

map of proposed Veirs Mill BRT Click to Enlarge

Project Updates

Bus Rapid Transit Outreach EventIn June we surveyed the public and asked how you would use the VMR Flash and what improvements you would like to see. Here is what you told us:

We showed you pictures of the US 29 Flash stations and asked how the stations could be improved. The comments we heard most often were requests for more seating and more weather protection. We heard you! The VMR Flash stations will include bigger benches and bigger shelters to protect riders from sun and rain.

We asked you how you would get to the stations and whether your station would be easy to get to. Many of you stated that there are locations with no sidewalks and that the pedestrian crosswalks are either missing or feel unsafe. We heard you! The VMR Flash project is exploring opportunities to add more pedestrian and bike improvements to the corridor, building new or wider sidewalks and shared use paths, installing signalized crosswalks, and redesigning some intersections to make them easier to cross. MCDOT is also studying the need for more lighting on sidewalks and shared use paths.

We asked you how you would get to the stations and whether your station would be easy to get to. Many of you stated that there are locations with no sidewalks and that the pedestrian crosswalks are either missing or feel unsafe. We heard you! The VMR Flash project is exploring opportunities to add more pedestrian and bike improvements to the corridor, building new or wider sidewalks and shared use paths, installing signalized crosswalks, and redesigning some intersections to make them easier to cross. MCDOT is also studying the need for more lighting on sidewalks and shared use paths.

Project Status

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is performing final design for Flash Bus Rapid Transit line along Veirs Mill Road (MD 586). 

Get Involved

Public Information Meeting 

Public Information Meeting virtual presentation for City of Rockville, Wednesday Nov. 9th at 7:00 PM. Registration is required to attend: https://tinyurl.com/4sjwbrbu

Virtual Corridor Advisory Committee Meeting

On Wednesday Nov. 10, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) held a virtual Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting to present an update on the Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and solicit feedback on station access and design. MCDOT has recently completed preliminary engineering and is preparing to begin final design.

Watch the meeting recording below.

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Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)

Overview

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is designing a FLASH Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along Veirs Mill Road (MD 586).

The project will transform mobility options with the implementation of a 7-mile, premium, branded, limited-stop BRT service along Veirs Mill Road. This new service will improve transit travel time and increase opportunity for a broad range of users, including a significant number of minority and low-income riders living along a highly congested corridor. The project will improve passenger transit mobility by connecting riders to high density housing and employment centers. The Veirs Mill Road corridor experiences some of the highest existing transit volumes in Montgomery County and for that reason has long been considered for transit enhancements. The Project is funded for Final Design in the County Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.

For more information on this corridor, see the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan.

Funding

The Project is funded for Final Design in the County Budget.

BUDGET DETAILS