That bright red traffic lane on University Boulevard between Amherst and Dennis avenues in Wheaton is a dedicated bus lane. Cyclists and pedestrians are permitted to travel there.
The two-mile, newly-painted lane is designed to provide faster Ride On and Metrobus service between Four Corners and the Wheaton Metro station. The project is expected to be completed in December. When finished, the words Bus Only will be painted on the traffic lane.
Besides buses, the new lane will allow for emergency vehicles and bicycles. Cars can enter the bus lane only to make a right turn, no more than 100 feet before the turn.
This is a one-year pilot program and later will be evaluated for effectiveness, according to Montgomery County Department of Transportation.
This is the same area where a trial program for a dedicated lane for cyclists and pedestrians only was not continued.
“Montgomery County continues to enjoy tremendous growth; we are projected to have an almost 30-percent increase in jobs in our region over the next 30 years,” said Executive Marc Elrich.
“An efficient and reliable public transportation system is key to accommodating a growing population. The dedicated bus lanes along University Boulevard will ensure riders are able to access jobs or other opportunities with less traffic congestion and a lower environmental footprint than by car,” Elrich said in a statement.
“Dedicated bus lanes benefit everyone,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “The intended outcome is to increase bus ridership by providing more reliable and faster service. We know that if we want more people to use the bus, we have to compete with cars by being faster and more convenient.”
Conklin also said that the lane will provide more separation from higher-speed traffic for people walking along University Boulevard and will reduce the number of cars in the right lane, improving conditions for bicyclists.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)’s C2 and C4 Metrobus lines operate along the route and carry more than 9,000 riders each weekday, the second-highest ridership in the D.C. region.
The bus lanes are an initiative of the MCDOT Bus Priority Project. WMATA partnered with MCDOT to seek approval for the project from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT/SHA), which maintains jurisdiction over the state road.
🟥🚌ICYMI🚌🟥
Montgomery County's Department of Transportation adds Dedicated Bus Lanes on University Boulevard in @WheatonMD
Project details▶️https://t.co/2XOeqPY9Rz@Luisa_fer_car #WheatonMD @RideOnMCT @MoCoCouncilMD #MDTraffic #buslanes #buses pic.twitter.com/AElT9IHgmR— MCDOT (@MCDOTNow) November 20, 2023
