Bus-only lanes spanning nearly seven miles near the Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont Metro Red Line stations have been made permanent, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Last summer, Metro implemented dedicated bus lanes for passengers amid the Red Line construction project, which included future connections to the Purple Line light rail and upgrades at multiple stations. In addition to designating a lane exclusively for buses, traffic signal timing was modified to prioritize bus movements and reduce traffic congestion along the corridor.
After reopening in September, the Maryland Department of Transportation, with Montgomery County and Metro, extended the bus-only lanes as a pilot project through December for evaluation.
Following feedback from a November public meeting, the bus-only lanes will be adjusted to operate on weekdays only, during peak hours: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
At all other times, the lanes will be made available for other uses as determined by the signage restrictions along the road, including many restrictions that predated the bus lane pilot. The MD 97 Bus Lane Pilot Fact Sheet (PDF) outlines the options for parking and loading.
The SHA said that the new hours and signage will take effect in Spring 2025, and project partners will continue to evaluate design improvements.
“The pilot program clearly showed transit benefits of the dedicated bus lanes, providing additional convenience and reliability for those in our community who count on transit for jobs, shopping, education and other necessities,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “By limiting the bus lane operations to peak hours only and weekdays only, we will strike a balance between providing those benefits while limiting the impact on other roadway users and responding to business needs.”
According to SHA, the Georgia Avenue bus lane pilot increased bus speeds by 32 percent and reliability by 18 percent. In comparison, average car and truck speeds dropped 8 to 12 percent during rush hours.
This month, Montgomery County and Metro requested the SHA make the bus-only lane permanent. The SHA said their decision was based on these requests, community feedback, and the pilot project results.
“We want to thank the Maryland Department of Transportation and Montgomery County Department of Transportation for collaborating with Metro on making these vital bus lanes on Georgia Avenue permanent,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “The bus moves the most people, most efficiently and these bus lanes are multiplying that effect and providing a great benefit to bus customers.”
For more information, visit the SHA’s Project Portal or email Qianyu Hu at [email protected] or Tiffany Boulware at [email protected].
Photo: © Jim – stock.adobe.com