Commuters in Silver Spring are facing a reroute maze, as the construction of the Purple Line has demanded detours for multiple Ride On Bus routes. Effective June 18, Routes 12, 13, and 19 are being redirected away from their usual track to accommodate the infrastructural invigoration at Wayne Avenue and Manchester Road. These detours are expected to persist, with an anticipated resumption of normal service by the end of August 2025.
Notably, Montgomery County's announcement points to a change for Route 12, which will now navigate down Manchester Road instead of Sligo Creek Parkway – the stops that will be missed remain unchanged. Transit travelers should be prepared to hop off at alternative halts or to walk a segment extra to reach their intended destinations.
The precise path of the detour for Route 12 to Takoma Station has been outlined: from Wayne Avenue it takes a right turn onto Manchester Road, before indulging a left turn onto Piney Branch Road, subsequently making a sharp right onto Flower Avenue, and finally, returning to its regular route towards Silver Spring.
Among the missed stops are the critical junctions of East Wayne Avenue with Manchester Road and Flower Avenue, as well as Flower Avenue's intersections with Plymouth and Hartwell Streets. The full details of the detours and missed stops for all the affected routes are available for passengers on the Montgomery County website. Montgomery County urges those affected to stay informed on the progression of the construction and the resultant commute changes, promising an eventual return to normalcy as the Purple Line comes to fruition.
