Council keeps key DOT items, rejects trimming civilian parking enforcement and asks for managed‑lane analysis for US‑29 BRT

The Montgomery County Council voted through multiple Transportation committee recommendations for the FY27 operating and CIP budgets while engaging in extended debate over several reconciliation items.

Traffic operations and mandates: The Transportation & Environment (T&E) Committee placed four items on the reconciliation list deemed necessary for system function or state mandate, including a major operating increase to sustain traffic signals and streetlights. Committee members emphasized the safety consequences if those increases were not funded.

Civilian parking enforcement: Councilmember Bojorwando moved to eliminate a $250,000 reconciliation‑list item to expand civilian parking enforcement outside existing parking lot districts. Supporters of the reduction pointed to tight county finances and the program’s uncertain revenue offset (a $80,000 placeholder in fines). Opponents — including several councilmembers and MCDOT staff — said the proposal is a scaled pilot (roughly 1–1.5 FTE equivalents plus a vehicle, performed by contractors) intended to address chronic nuisance parking in areas not covered by current contracts, possibly reducing demands on sworn police officers. After discussion and roll call, the motion to cut the item failed and the program remained on the reconciliation list for further consideration.

Transit and BRT: The Council accepted T&E recommendations to expand Flash/‘lehi’‑style service to Poolesville and Damascus (funding proposed for 10 drivers and five buses) and to extend Bertonsville Flash to all‑day service. The committee also recommended deferring $25.5 million in bus replacements to FY28 and adding $2.4 million in state BRT funds to refurbish Flash vehicles.

Route 29 managed‑lane debate: Councilmember Krista Mink moved to add language directing DOT to include the previously studied corridor‑wide managed‑lane concept in the final comparative analysis for the US‑29 BRT project, alongside a 0‑ or 1‑lane evaluation for the 4‑Corners segment. Committee text already required analysis of 0/1 dedicated lanes through 4‑Corners. Council members disagreed on whether adding a managed‑lane corridor analysis would expand scope and delay the project; the motion failed on a roll call. Committee language retained required evaluation of alternatives for 4‑Corners and a T&E briefing before construction.

Parking lot districts and urban districts: The Council accepted committee adjustments to Parking Lot District budgets and flagged an ongoing discussion about whether and how PLD transfers to urban districts should be rethought; a fall work session on urban districts was announced.

NEXT STEPS: The Council advanced DOT budget items to the reconciliation list for final decisions while requesting more details on pilots, contract scopes and revenue assumptions. DOT and council staff committed to provide more granular piloting details (patrol areas, contractor scope, revenue assumptions) and to brief T&E before moving reconciliation items to final action.