Montgomery County commuters, get ready for a smoother ride come the end of June. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is rolling out phase one of the Ride On Reimagined plan on Sunday, June 29, with a series of route and schedule adjustments. These changes are designed to streamline bus services and align with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Bus updates, which are also set to kick off on the same day.
According to a statement from the Montgomery County government, the Ride On service alterations aim to fortify connections to Metrorail, eliminate redundancy with Metro Bus routes, and bolster reliability in areas with higher demand. MCDOT's actions complement the Metro Bus changes, which are rooted in findings from the WMATA Better Bus network study.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich underlined the significance of these modifications, saying, “We are implementing these changes to better use our resources in collaboration with WMATA.” Elrich detailed the objective of the overhaul as a means to offer “transit to those who rely on it most and to improve reliability so that more people will use it.” He described the revamp as "one of the most significant overhauls of our transit system in decades," and proclaimed it to be "just the beginning of what we plan to do," in an announcement released by Montgomery County.
For those interested in the specifics, MCDOT is not leaving passengers in the dark. Detailed information on each major Ride On bus route affected by the upcoming changes can be found through the county's official press release. Clear, concise, and without a trace of unnecessary embellishment, the county’s announcement lays out what riders need to know in preparation for the transition. Daily commuters and occasional passengers alike should take note of the revised routes and schedules for a more reliable commute.
