Montgomery County residents, brace yourselves for schedule shifts over the holiday season as various government services and transportation options announce closures and altered timings for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. According to a press release from Montgomery County Government, administrative offices, state offices, courts, and the Department of Permitting Services will be closed on both December 25 and January 1.
Public libraries and the Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) retail stores will wrap up early on December 24 and December 31, shutting doors at 6 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively reverting to stillness on Christmas and New Year's Day, while Ride On transit services adapt to a Sunday schedule on these dates, with no new trips after certain evening hours new trips after certain evening hours and certain services like Ride On Flex and Ride On extRa not in operation, the changes were detailed in a press release.
Transportation services such as MARC Train and Metro offerings undergo adjustments too; there's no MARC Train service on December 25 and January 1, whereas Metrobus sticks to its typical agenda on December 24 and December 31 and swaps to a Sunday itinerary the following days. The Metrorail will run on a regular schedule until midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, then switch to a reduced Sunday schedule on the holidays themselves, as reported in the county's announcement.
Waste collection services take a break on the days of revelry, which means county-provided trash and recycling pick-ups are on hiatus December 25 and January 1, but regular service resumes soon after, sliding collections one day forward ending on December 27 and January 3, Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center, Community Recreation and Senior Centers, plus Aquatic Centers will also observe early closures at 3 p.m. on the eves of the holidays and remain closed on the holidays, with operations completely halting their swirling dance of activity and quieted until they resume standard hours, all this information is available on Montgomery Parks’ website for those seeking further clarity.
Expectations are that public parking garages, lots, and curbside meters will maintain posted rates and restrictions the day before the holidays but offer free parking on December 25 and January 1.
