MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

The MD 355 Flash BRT will provide a new transit service with greater travel speed and frequency along the MD 355 corridor that:

• Reduces vehicular traffic congestion while maintaining existing roadway capacity.
• Alleviates growing demand on limited existing streets and roadways.
• Connects residents and communities to local and regional jobs, education, services and destinations, and supports efforts to improve economic stability.
  ​Creates a convenient and environmentally sustainable transit connection.
• Supports economic revitalization and redevelopment in the Montgomery County region.
• Achieve Master Planned non-auto driver modal share.
• Encourages transit as a primary mode of travel.
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions to help improve air quality.

Roadway conditions, capacity, and expansion constraints vary widely along the 24-mile corridor from Bethesda to Clarksburg. MD 355 Flash BRT is expected to use dedicated lanes in some sections and operate in mixed traffic in other areas. It will include approximately 11 miles of fully dedicated BRT lanes and approximately 10.5 miles of roadway widening. However, further engineering and design will determine the final locations where dedicated lanes are feasible.

The County does not anticipate significant new parking areas at most Flash BRT stations along MD 355. However, the County is studying where demand for parking will be highest and how best to accommodate increased parking demand to support ridership.

MD 355 Flash BRT will use zero-emission buses. The alternative fuel vehicle industry continues to expand and regularly debut new transit vehicle options. The County already owns and operates standard-length all-electric buses. MCDOT will continue to monitor developments in the industry and carefully consider the additional sustainable fuel sources for the MD 355 Flash BRT service once the project is closer to implementation.

Refer to the 35% plans and the project map above for the station locations. See also pedestrian and bicycle facilities that will be available at different locations along MD 355. The County has used public input, as well as federally compliant analysis of the environmental impacts of this design.

A detailed cost estimate for the MD 355 Flash BRT is being developed as part of the current phase of the project.

The full project is funded through final design. Construction funding has been recommended for the segment of the project between Montgomery College – Rockville and Montgomery College – Germantown. For more information, see Central Phase and South/North Phases.