[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6500751,"mediaKeyId","5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358","parentId",5861805,"title","Residents and advocates urge ‘transit first’ approach for Clarksburg–Montgomery Village corridor study","audioSeconds",1817,"startMs",1743000,"endMs",3560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358&start=1743&end=3560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358/thumbnail_1743000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500751/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Residents-and-advocates-urge-transit-first-approach-for-ClarksburgMontgomery-Village-corridor-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500751-f2bfd8423991dda3d5094a1fa19ac86f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773535821&Signature=aNos5JBdVOmct4hjmuWd1S0PsR~KGSizVmBQoU8pz1yJJHqZrs1m59bKZNlv4FUOWXPOj9k5LDY9f2ID8YFVmlIz1MRg1ucEssbM6ekRhjon7Dz6UaFyCzgB3GTHJ0VPNw2zW7wrcdqLbIzf5HNO-eB-2yFWHY0mMju~vqbRLhWJ2hAz0zqbK3NA79L6PifXa4JS554lwS5oaQDux8yWSTDf-UjVZ6TknZFy~qm~xea2FbAUF6EhGuuC8qGKtGrkLfm7RUzrWC-cSXdHLblOLg1mIl6suR1esoU~1DVW2aFPxAgkw9q~2sMGZRHAwxUwvpqRhdcpYsJ7BvDCaeF~UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-09-24T14:29:50Z","article","Montgomery County held a public hearing Sept. 30 on a proposed $100,000 special appropriation to the FY2026 operating budget to fund a Clarksburg–Montgomery Village corridor transportation study. Speakers urged the council to prioritize transit, walking and biking over new highway construction and to examine specific needs of seniors, people with disabilities and students.

The resolution would appropriate $100,000 from general fund undesignated reserves to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the corridor study. The item was referred to the Joint Transportation and Environment Committee and the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee; a work session was scheduled for Oct. 16, 2025. No council vote was recorded at the Sept. 30 hearing.

Diane Cameron called explicitly for transit-first planning and thanked the council for removing the northern portion of the M-83 highway from the county’s master plan. “In order to put transit first, this study must do three things: provide a clear statement of need, recommend how best to meet the need, and collaborate with our neighbor to the north, Frederick County,” Cameron said.

Margaret Shope, representing the TAME Coalition (Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended), said the study should focus on maintaining and expanding existing transit networks — Ride On buses, MARC trains and the Red Line connection at Shady Grove — and requested free, more frequent buses along planned BRT routes and two midday MARC trains that have state and rail operator agreement but lack funding.

Jeanette Rosenbaum, a resident of Lake Forest (Montgomery Village), described long travel times by bus within the Upcounty and said planned redevelopment will increase demand for transit. “We need to expand our transit system,” Rosenbaum said, citing projected population growth through 2045.

Carl Held, speaking for a coalition of 19 private organizations, echoed calls to prioritize transit and active transportation, and to align the study with the county’s climate action goals. He urged attention to a planned Route 355 BRT North section and to restructuring local buses to feed BRT corridors.

Paula Ross, CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, urged the council to consider road capacity in the Upcounty as well and said commerce depends on reliable access to town centers. She supported the appropriation while emphasizing that the study should examine a mix of transit and road solutions to meet Upcounty needs.

Multiple student speakers, including Barkha Bishnoi, Evan Fernando, Grace Chi, Lorena Wu and Siddharth Harishankar, described reliance on Ride On service for school commutes and after-school activities and asked for more frequent routes, weekend service, and better geographic coverage to ensure equitable access for students without cars.

Speakers repeatedly cited the council’s July vote to remove the M-83 northern section from the master plan as an opportunity to prioritize transit. Testimony requested that the study quantify mobility needs across demographic groups, consider bus shelters and midday MARC trains, and explore Ride On route extensions (for example, extending Route 101 on Route 355 to Clarksburg).

The council’s published item description lists the funding source as general fund undesignated reserves and notes the joint committee referral. The public hearing record will remain open until the staff deadline noted in the council materials; the matter will proceed to the scheduled committee work sessions for further deliberation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sep 30, 2025 - Council Session (pm)","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters told the County Council to prioritize transit, walking and biking in a $100,000 special appropriation to study the Clarksburg–Montgomery Village corridor; proponents asked the study to assess needs for seniors, people with disabilities, students and to coordinate with Frederick County.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500756,"Montgomery County public hearing spotlights safety push to ban stopping or parking in bikeways",1165,568000,1733000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358&start=568&end=1733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358/thumbnail_568000.jpg","/articles/6500756/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-public-hearing-spotlights-safety-push-to-ban-stopping-or-parking-in-bikeways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500756-b55e4a4cc7c328d29c505a8b7401c5f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773535821&Signature=ktkf9qECp-E6pRi8JH3GAXRSrdz8ylt~glby~E-ymOEoOBvavU5UeqROhsz2COBag-o-Mt~9mZC3CdEwkT-3418aSY35hOeh8mf0BdnlPTW5ti1O9JOg59MBIsmsim2z0s-SALzEuYbtq~9JzNWGSYrmFd41VNKfTJwX8648iGFi5RAkmQpQVBJOz2L73cLqCozU7xhIZM~gvI4JDdbhbzFsyV8RVZmbJU3~Xlbk-RGKBaUzYFIa20ODcXg~UDrH02rVZWc6PBDOHXdCHTvqo6sgjttD1MkWrbv5drJzhWujQ6ilEBqzCv82d8w8xFQvlCGBr5TLNpGUkES4~GySgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members held a public hearing Sept. 30 on Bill 28-25, a proposed amendment to the Montgomery County code that would prohibit stopping, standing or parking a motor vehicle in a bikeway. Supporters said the change is a straightforward safety measure needed to keep protected bike lanes usable.

The bill’s sponsor was identified in testimony as Council member Glass; a Transportation and Environment Committee work session on the bill is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2025. Those testifying urged the council to adopt the prohibition and to coordinate loading and delivery solutions where needed.

Seth Grimes, representing the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, said the problem is common in Montgomery County and provided photographs from Bethesda showing trucks and cars blocking cycle tracks. “When a bike lane is blocked, bicyclists and scooter riders are forced into traffic lanes where they are less safe and where they also slow vehicular traffic,” Grimes said. He noted that similar prohibitions already exist in Rockville, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and in Virginia.

Mindy Baden described personal motivation for backing the bill, linking it to road safety advocacy since the death of her son. “Too often, vehicles stand, stop, or park in those lanes, forcing bicyclists into travel lanes with motor vehicles and risking collisions and potential serious injury,” Baden said.

Larry Solar, a Bethesda resident, and Thomas Kressna, also a county resident, recounted instances of commercial vehicles blocking lanes and described how less-experienced riders are endangered when forced to merge into fast-moving traffic. David Jaworski, who rides in the East County, said he has twice been forced off the road and described frequent weekly occurrences of vehicles parked in bike lanes where sidewalks or safe egress are not available.

Bill Pugh, transportation and climate director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, asked the council to view the bill as a “common-sense fix” that supports the county’s planning goals, including Thrive Montgomery 2050. Kenneth Sprague, a virtual speaker from Silver Spring, emphasized the affordability benefits of cycling and said blocked bike lanes make that option less viable for households facing high transportation costs.

Speakers suggested the county pair the legal prohibition with enforcement and design measures and encouraged transportation staff to pursue loading-zone solutions in commercial areas, for example with urban district partners in Bethesda. No formal council action on Bill 28-25 was recorded at the Sept. 30 hearing; the matter was set for committee consideration.

Proponents provided written exhibits and photographs to illustrate blocked lanes; the council’s transportation staff was asked to consider enforcement, design, and loading alternatives as the bill proceeds to committee.

The public hearing record for Bill 28-25 closed at the end of the session; the council did not vote on the measure at this meeting.","Proponents at a County Council public hearing urged passage of Bill 28-25 to prohibit stopping, standing or parking in bikeways, saying blocked lanes force cyclists into traffic and create safety risks; no council vote was taken at the hearing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500743,"Council approves two supplemental operating appropriations unanimously at Sept. 30 session",77,3641000,3718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358&start=3641&end=3718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358/thumbnail_3641000.jpg","/articles/6500743/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-approves-two-supplemental-operating-appropriations-unanimously-at-Sept-30-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500743-0446f800ab6345707b2f6a00b521edb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773535821&Signature=ELjaQQR~ujfYHq2H8v4D8wP8RMX30eGLovNMdPsBkrrmmM-CYZ5G93nX~ZYGG0iIbFYdzXQnbA~W66YLo0PUas7uGZFSM9PYp0rrQR~0ahscI0OFy4Y5ZbL2M55iKC1LNjV3BGZ4GCBEHtY~KonW7uykKwhTc1hbnB7KWAKm5aXd~Sq4ZRfKw2EhpA1RUL8Rfw0dN2DsN31byZvsaIFOYdz8ScsacWJLM-eEELCHzwajxGzXag2o1MJ6dcLqQYsO5yHo3~SwpZ4tq6q7lkZ-y9tqTR-m-X36gmLa907NrhCAnMWJ0O4sV7kMSnieBecNVSxNsJJG6zBMABJm2GD5RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the conclusion of public hearings on Sept. 30, the Montgomery County Council took action on two supplemental operating appropriations.

The council unanimously approved supplemental appropriation 26-3 to the FY2026 operating budget for Montgomery County Public Schools (a professional learning grant) in the amount of $323,995, funded by a state grant. Council member Lukey moved the motion and Council member Sells seconded. The record shows a unanimous voice vote; exact roll-call counts were not specified in the hearing transcript.

The council also unanimously approved supplemental appropriation 206-7 to the FY2026 operating budget for the Montgomery County Government State’s Attorney’s Office, a Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services competitive Victims of Crime Act award in an amount of over $649,000; the source was state grant funds. Council member Katz moved the motion and Vice President Giwondo seconded; the record shows a unanimous voice vote and no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

Both items were presented for immediate action after their public hearings; no dissent or abstentions were noted on the record. The council’s minutes and adopted ordinances/resolutions will reflect formal appropriation numbers and any additional administrative conditions.","The County Council unanimously approved two supplemental operating appropriations during the Sept. 30 meeting: a $323,995 state grant to MCPS for professional learning and a $649,000+ state award to the State's Attorney's Office for victims services; both were approved by voice vote with movers and seconders recorded in the minutes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500748,"Gaithersburg mayor backs $11.6 million transportation appropriation as long-running negotiation closes",140,3499000,3639000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358&start=3499&end=3639","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861805-a61342e9b1a065dc6d4c84bca2c52358/thumbnail_3499000.jpg","/articles/6500748/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Gaithersburg-mayor-backs-116-million-transportation-appropriation-as-long-running-negotiation-closes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500748-6ea57d0a8c0202fcff50d7f525b28ba4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773535821&Signature=KJaTzJqcIrBoenNhNU0R9Q1x7IhOu6hEwwaDFTSnnfIp1Fig6HWk50goDzg4BHcQGeC0CrfNouRnZqGBlCroeLJ7xQACMSCOIQs7PenSW2cKywypzanP-tFEV7jjj~6vV4Qcsykg-OEhosR~xZhG2ClrGBlTVG5vvAvsOGKs3U5L2FQsomfEdcWEyq8XSSQnKd3eBmi~2a5~LnBG7rPQ8~qi8FGNc~8n~MUV23KJVXNVRNiQkGWa4l0maegitAjahIw68qUDn5Lui7mOOmEr0uDdweaQAmvYFxsDqmiDD9ah7bEtoscO6biiFPU2RxaYSsDCxp117ELdREDdEs8l6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The County Council held a Sept. 30 public hearing on a proposed capital supplemental appropriation of $11,600,000 (approx.) for Gaithersburg transportation improvements, funded by impact tax revenues. Gaithersburg Mayor Judd Ashman spoke in support of the resolution and described the appropriation as the culmination of more than a decade of negotiations to release funds that were previously constrained by intergovernmental conditions.

“This resolution before you represents the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of negotiation, to free up money that’s been sitting in an account and could not be spent without the consent of both the county and the city,” Ashman said. He thanked Council member Katz and County Executive Mark Elrich for their roles in the negotiations and asked the council to approve the appropriation so the funds can be used for critical projects in Gaithersburg and the county.

The council’s published materials list the item as an amendment to the FY25–30 Capital Improvement Program and a supplemental appropriation (26-18) to the FY2026 capital budget for Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation, Gaithersburg Transportation Improvements; the source of funds is impact tax funds. A Transportation and Environment Committee work session was noted as forthcoming. No formal council vote on the appropriation was recorded at the hearing.

Ashman also expressed Gaithersburg’s support for the Clarksburg–Montgomery Village corridor study and thanked local stakeholders who participated in the negotiation. The public hearing record will remain available for the council’s consideration as staff and committees complete follow-up work.","Mayor Judd Ashman told the County Council the proposed capital supplemental appropriation would free up impact tax funds long held in an account and fund projects benefiting both the city and the county; council took no vote at the public hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and advocates urge ‘transit first’ approach for Clarksburg–Montgomery Village corridor study

Montgomery County public hearing spotlights safety push to ban stopping or parking in bikeways

Council approves two supplemental operating appropriations unanimously at Sept. 30 session

Gaithersburg mayor backs $11.6 million transportation appropriation as long-running negotiation closes