MCDOT Seeks Input on Proposed North Bethesda BRT/Flash Line

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) currently operates one line of the County’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, branded Flash, in the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (US 29) corridor. The upgraded bus service is part of a planned network of BRT lines in the County. MCDOT is now in the planning stages for a North Bethesda BRT line and would like residents to assist in determining the street layout, location of stations and the endpoints of the corridor.

MCDOT has established a brief project survey to help refine goals and recommendations for the North Bethesda study. The survey will be open until Friday, April 29.

To participate in the survey, which is available in English and Spanish, residents can go here. Residents can select their preferred language on the dropdown menu located in the top right corner of the survey.

The Flash service on the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (US 29) line connects the Downtown Silver Spring Transit Center with White Oak, Briggs Chaney and Burtonsville. It has stops along the way.

Flash buses feature bike racks inside, free Wi-Fi service and USB ports. The service—which uses 60-foot-long articulated buses—carries more than 2,100 riders per day on the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike line. Buses run every 15 minutes from 5:30 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week. The service operates twice as often during peak hours.

The US 29 Flash was the first step in creating a network of rapid transit lines in the County. The County is performing preliminary engineering and design for its next two planned Flash corridors along MD 355 (Rockville Pike) and MD 586 (Veirs Mill Road). It also is in the preliminary planning stages for the New Hampshire Avenue and North Bethesda lines.

BRT’s unique service include:

• Frequent, reliable service.
• Bus lanes at intersections that allow buses to keep moving, known as “queue jump lanes.”
• Dedicated bus lanes in some parts of the corridor, reducing traffic delays.
• Priority green light signaling, allowing for shorter travel times.
• Near-level accessible boarding at multiple doors, facilitating quick and efficient boarding and exiting.
• Comfortable stations providing weather protection, pre-payment stations and real-time transit information via electronic message boards.
• Community-friendly design with enhanced pedestrian walkways and bike facilities.

To learn more about the BRT/Flash Bus Service, visit the Flash website here.