MCPS Shady Grove Bus Depot Relocation

The County Council adopted the Shady Grove Sector Plan in 2006, which calls for creation of more transit-oriented housing and retail development near the Shady Grove metro station. Several public infrastructure uses were located in a tract of land on either side of Crabbs Branch Way. Known informally as the County Service Park, this area contained: the County’s Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center (EMTOC); the County’s Radio Shop; the ABS Warehouse; MCPS Food Distribution Facility; MCPS Facility Maintenance; and the M-NCPPC Facility Maintenance in addition to the MCPS Shady Grove Transportation Depot.

The redevelopment of the 45-acre site on the west side of Crabbs Branch Way is nearly complete, click here to learn more.

Of all the public facilities on the Crabbs Branch properties, only the MCPS Shady Grove Bus Depot on the east side of Crabbs Branch Way remains. An interagency staff workgroup with representatives from County Council staff, MCPS transportation and facilities, the County’s Office of Management and Budget, and Department of General Services worked together for many years to identify possible solutions to relocate the Shady Grove Depot.

Relocating the depot has been challenging due to the size of the fleet and operations to be relocated; a dearth of large light industrial land parcels available; and general opposition from communities to having the depot near residential areas. The staff workgroup reviewed all Board of Education owned closed school sites and future school properties as well as over 200 privately-owned properties within the County. The workgroup analysis also considered options to increase parking capacity at the other four existing transportation depots.

With the transition of both the MCPS and the County’s Department of Transportation bus fleet to zero emissions buses, in 2024 the County explored an option to consolidate the existing transportation operations to the rear of the east side of Crabbs Branch Way, known as Jeremiah Park, and create a new shared use facility for MCDOT Ride-On and MCPS. This reorientation then intended to leave room for mixed-use development as well as the park and school that are envisioned in the Sector Plan. Click here to learn more about this community engagement and land planning initiative. 

Subsequent to this land planning effort, DGS learned of an opportunity to locate a portion of the MCPS buses at 861 E. Gude Drive. 861 E. Gude Drive is located approximately 2.5 miles from Jeremiah Park and in a light industrial area. The reduction and removal of the MCPS program from the shared use depot at Jeremiah Park allows for a significant shift in that project’s scope, timing and financials. OPD is therefore managing two major projects to implement the relocation of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Shady Grove Bus Depot and the complete redevelopment of the former County Service Park:

861 E. Gude Drive – New MCPS Bus Depot

Jeremiah Park