Closures at Bethesda Metro Station, Online Discussion with Ike Leggett, Rush+

[Howard Hartman]

Neighborhood News  Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, North Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville and White Flint   June 5, 2012  In this issue Closures at Bethesda Metro station Online discussion with County Executive Rush+ Home improvement forum Make a difference in your neighborhood Ken Hartman is working on: King Farm shuttle service to Shady Grove Metro White Flint maintenance June Woodmont Triangle Action Group meeting Closure of Bethesda Metro bus bay and kiss & ride. June Citizens Advisory Board meetings BRAC committee     __________________  Quick links  Archived newsletters Organizations   Citizens Advisory Board    Bethesda Urban Partnership   Bethesda Green   Glen Echo Park  Live and Learn Bethesda   Greater B-CC Chamber of Commerce   Potomac Chamber of Commerce   Rockville Chamber of Commerce   Services    Crime reports   Meeting room rentals   Volunteer opportunities   Call 311, get it done   The Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Quality of Life/Public Safety Committee meets next Monday, June 11, 7 pm.  On the agenda are the parks, recreation and open space plan and a public safety update from County Police and Fire & Rescue. The meeting is at the B-CC Regional Services Center and is open to all.   The full board meets on Jun 18.  County Councilmember Hans Riemer is on the agenda, along with draft legislation regarding accessory apartments.   Closures at Bethesda Metro station   Elevator entrance   The street-level entrance to the elevator at the Bethesda Metro station was closed yesterday as part of Metro's rehabilitation of the red line. Over the next four months, technicians will replace the elevator's cab, motor,  control system and other  critical components.    During the project, Metro is providing free shuttle bus service between the Medical Center and Bethesda stations, which also are served by Metrobus routes J2 and J4 and Ride On route 34. There currently is no signage alerting riders how to request a shuttle bus, although WMATA tells us it will go up shortly. The number to call is 202-962-1825.  Note that It can take 15 minutes or more for a bus to come. We are working with Metro to shorten the response time.   Bus bay and kiss-and-ride area   We have learned that the bus bay and kiss-and-ride areas will close in August or September for 18 months. The owner of the parking garage under the bus bay must make concrete repairs that require the removal of the bus bay deck. A plan is being developed to relocate all the buses to nearby streets during the project.     Online discussion with County Executive Ike Leggett   Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will hold a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 1-2 pm. County residents will be able to ask questions through the county's website before or during the discussion via the  Live Discussion with Ike Leggett link. Questions and answers will be available for viewing on the site both during and after the chat.   Rush+   Rush+, Metro's new rail initiative, is set to launch on Monday June 18. It's designed to reduce crowding while serving more customers and  providing transfer-free rail travel. Twenty-one stations on the green, yellow, blue and orange lines will get more frequent service , with six additional trains every hour during rush hour. The red line is not directly affected by these changes.   Better Metro bus service is also in the works, including improved service on the MetroExtra J4 route between College Park and Bethesda.     Improve your home improvement experience   The county's Office of Consumer Protection is offering a free forum on Wednesday, June 20, 7-9 pm.  It will address several topics involving home improvement projects that can pose problems for consumers. They include common scams, how to be sure your contractor is properly licensed, how to structure your home improvement contract, permitting requirements for homeowners and what remedies are available for consumers.    Registration is not required but is recommended, as seating is limited. To register or request sign language or other services, call 240-777-3636 or MD Relay at 800-735-2258, or email consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov.   The forum will be held at the Council Office Building, first floor, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.   Make a difference in your neighborhood There are two organizations, Little Falls Watershed Alliance and Rock Creek Conservancy, dedicated to protecting our local environment. Both depend on volunteers of all ages to help them do that. No matter where you live in lower Montgomery County, there is are projects that would welcome the participation of you or you and your family.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center | 4805 Edgemoor Lane | Bethesda | MD | 20814