Montgomery Village

Bus Rapid Transit update given to MVF Board

by Mike Conroy
At the June 28 Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) Board of Directors meeting, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Manager Corey Pitts provided an update to the project and what residents could expect to see in the near future.

Pitts noted that the goal of the BRT on MD 355 project is to improve speed, ease of use, reliability and comfort for riders; Montgomery County DOT is looking to make trips on the BRT consistent and reliable for public transportation users. To accomplish this along the 22-mile stretch from Clarksburg to Bethesda, MCDOT plans to implement dedicated lanes (where available); enhanced vehicles with WiFi and USB charging ports; comfortable stations with weather protection, pre-payment kiosks and real-time transit information; level boarding for easy access onto buses; enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and Transit Signal Priority to help keep buses moving.

Phase 1 of the MD 355 BRT plan was completed in 2017, outlining a Preliminary Purpose and Need Statement and Conceptual Alternative Report. Phase 2, which will end this year, is an alternatives analysis led by MCDOT. Pitts noted the objective of Phase 2 was to identify one Recommended Alternative that, among other things, developed and assessed an operations plan and recommended implementation phases.

The phased design and implementation is anticipated to begin in 2019. Pitts said this would likely be a segmented project with each part building on the success of the previous part, in a logical order. He also noted that the new 60-foot buses would be articulated and able to hold 90 passengers.

The fleet will run on diesel fuel, as the electric technology for the larger buses has not been proven efficient as of yet. 

Pitts said that MCDOT is providing as many outreach opportunities as possible, and community meetings, focus groups and Corridor Advisory Committees will be established as the project progresses. He added that MCDOT will be present at the MV Farmers’ Market later this season to answer questions and share literature. 

He shared concepts for the station prototype design, noting the distinct characteristics each would have. The design calls for protective windscreens, seating, bike racks, landscaping and stormwater management, a ticket vending/reading machine and real-time arrival information board. He said the stations would be scalable to accommodate additional seating and windscreens as necessary. The goal is to have Net-Zero impact with the stations.

For more information or questions, contact BRT Project Manager Corey Pitts at 240-777-7217 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MVF Board approves Recreation Strategic Plan

by Mike Conroy
Since being hired as Director of Recreation and Parks in August 2017, Duncan Mullis has been leading his team in a strategic planning exercise to help guide the future of Recreation and Parks offerings and amenities for the next several years. The detailed plan, called “MV: A More Active Tomorrow,” aims to “positively impact the quality of life for the Montgomery Village community through enhancing programs, parks, pools and facilities.”

The seven-month-long process has engaged residents, staff, committees and the Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) Board of Directors to produce a set of goals for each of the department’s key areas: programming, aquatics, parks and facilities. The plan proposes realistic goals for meeting diverse community needs and shifts some current practices to make recreation opportunities available on a broader spectrum.

The Board adopted the plan at its June meeting, after previewing and making suggested changes during the annual retreat earlier in the month. The full Recreation Strategic Plan—including goals, survey finding and demographic information—can be found online at www.montgomeryvillage.com.

Other agenda items
Several architectural criteria were reviewed and approved by the Board. In The Heights of Stedwick, a new gate style for residents to choose from was approved, as a result of scheduled inspections and an appeal to the Architectural Review Board (ARB). In South Village, a new trim color—McCormick #110 “Greystone”—was approved to give residents a third color option for this area of their homes. In The Reach (East Village), changes to the fence criteria were approved, resulting in a more cost-effective option for residents that still retains the overall design of the original fence to remain intact. All of these updates were approved by the individual homes corporations and the ARB before coming to the MVF Board.

During the Board retreat on June 2, the Board reviewed the Mission, Vision and Strategic Goals of the organization. During the discussion, several suggested additions were noted, reflecting the Board’s recognition and appreciation for the Village’s diversity; the need for inclusion and engagement of all residents in MVF activities; partnering with the police and schools that serve the community; and the desire to promote business and economic development in Montgomery Village. The proposed changes were adopted.

Revisions to the MVF Collection Policy were also approved. The edits made to the policy did not change the terms for collection or acceleration, but more accurately reflect the language that is used by the county court system in order to keep the efficiency of the collections process.

Finally, the Board awarded a bid to Brigade Holdings, Inc. through a Pepco grant to upgrade the LED lighting fixtures at the MVF Office. The upgrade from the fixtures installed in 2015 will cut the kilowatt hour output in half, resulting in an annual energy savings of $2,320.

EVP Report
Executive Vice President (EVP) Dave Humpton noted that staff has been busy with the summer season in full swing. He said camps are engaging, pools are being used and summer programs are in full swing. Humpton relayed that Montgomery Village has and has had a strong resident presence on the UpCounty Advisory Board (UCAB) and commended those dedicated to serving in that capacity. 

Additionally, Humpton talked about how discussion from the Board retreat prompted investigation into whether or not Montgomery Village could apply for status as an Enterprise Zone. He said that while the application must be approved by the county and the state, based on initial findings, if approved, Montgomery Village could benefit from the designation, which would offer development incentives in the area. Humpton expressed the desire to establish a business roundtable to discuss the potential and support the endeavor.

Treasurer’s Report
MVF Treasurer Bob Carey gave the financial report for both the month of May and year-to-date (YTD). Carey once again noted MVF’s strong financial position with $8.6 million in Cash and Investments showing on the Balance Sheet. He reported that Revenue for the month was ahead of budget by $37,000, and ahead of budget by $250,000 YTD. Overall, all areas are favorable to the budget, except Village News advertising. 

Personnel and Operating costs were reported as below budget due to previously unfilled positions and prudent spending by staff. It was noted that Personnel Costs would rise in the coming months due to seasonal staff.

Next Meeting
The next MVF Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 26 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road. The meeting begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. with Residents Time. Residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The meeting agenda and information packet will be available online at www.montgomeryvillage.com the week of the meeting.

I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study upcoming public workshops

Throughout July, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will host a series of I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study Public Workshops in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to present:

  • Study status and schedule;
  • Purpose and Need summary;
  • Preliminary Range of Alternatives developed from the scoping process; and
  • Screening Criteria to evaluate the alternatives

The meeting formats will include static board displays, scheduled general presentations and small working group tables. The workshops will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with general presentations occurring at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; 
presentations will last approximately 30 minutes. The boards and small working group tables will be available throughout the meeting with technical staff available for discussion of comments and questions. Alternative descriptions and simple graphics featuring typical details of the potential improvements will be presented. Environmental and property information will not be available at this stage of the study. A virtual workshop will also be available on the program website www.495-270-p3.com starting Tuesday, July 17.

Workshop Dates and Locations

Tuesday, July 17
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
7601 Hanover Parkway
Greenbelt

Wednesday, July 18
Clarksburg High School
22500 Wims Road
Clarksburg

Tuesday, July 24 
Central High School
200 Cabin Branch Road
Capitol Heights

Wednesday, July 25
Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
6311 Wilson Lane
Bethesda

For more information, including directions to the workshop locations, visit www.495-270-p3.com.

Page 21 of 21

Community

Residents

MVF