Metro Shutdown Spurs Push To Make Some MoCo Changes Permanent

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — As the monthslong Metro Red Line closures come to an end this Labor Day weekend, authorities are wondering whether some commuter changes should stick around permanently.

In an effort to ease commuter stress, authorities implemented a variety of measures to ensure traffic ran smoothly while three Metro stations — Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center and Bethesda — were closed for major construction.

One of those measures included the Glenmont Express Shuttle, which provides direct service between the Milestone Park-and-Ride stop and the Glenmont Metro Station. The express also included a pit stop at the Shady Grove Metro Station.

Now, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation is considering making the shuttle a permanent option for commuters. A 10-question survey was made available in late August to travelers who've used the service.

The brief questionnaire touches on possible changes travelers would want for the service, how often residents use the bus, and what made them want to use the shuttle in the first place, among other inquiries.

7News reported that Ride On and MCDOT are scheduled to meet Thursday to decide on a possible monthlong trial for the express shuttle.

But that's not the only service that could stay permanently. The outlet reported that authorities were also weighing the possibility of keeping the "bus-only" lanes along state Route 355.

The Metro construction project, which kicked off July 6, came underway as a means to upgrade lighting, drainage, and the railway.

A majority of the work was also dedicated to the construction of a second mezzanine at the Bethesda Metro Stop that would link the station to the future Purple Line.