Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) General Fund supported programs is to provide an effective and efficient transportation system to ensure the safe and convenient movement of persons and vehicles on County roads; to plan, design, and coordinate development and construction of transportation and pedestrian routes; to operate and maintain the traffic signal system and road network in a safe and efficient manner; and to develop and implement transportation policies to maximize efficient service delivery. The General Fund supports programs in the Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations, the Division of Parking Management, the Division of Highway Maintenance, the Division of Transportation Engineering, the Division of Transit Services, and the Director's Office.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY21 Operating Budget for the Department of Transportation is $53,818,760, an increase of $1,006,577 or 1.91 percent from the FY20 Approved Budget of $52,812,183. Personnel Costs comprise 50.93 percent of the budget for 457 full-time position(s) and seven part-time position(s), and a total of 285.80 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 49.07 percent of the FY21 budget.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• Easier Commutes
• A Greener County
• Effective, Sustainable Government
• Safe Neighborhoods

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY20 estimates reflect funding based on the FY20 approved budget. The FY21 and FY22 figures are performance targets based on the FY21 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY22.

Initiatives

• Provide funding for approximately 30 miles of new Raised Pavement Markings (RPMs) and maintenance of 20 miles of existing RPMS. RPMs supplement Pavement Markings, enhancing visibility of traffic lanes and reducing roadway accidents at night.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• The Division of Transportation Engineering is reviewing the bridge design process including ways to expedite the review time taken by outside agencies including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the State Highway Administration, Federal Aid Section, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services. The productivity goal is to reduce the total design time from six years to five years for each project.

• Montgomery County Department of Transportation is working with Permitting Services to develop and implement a new policy to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the right of way. The first part of the policy is focused on single family/residential property owners who don't have a driveway or a garage and would need to install their charging stations in the public right of way (curbside) in front of their property. The second part of the policy will focus on the installation of public EV charging stations in the public right of way in commercial and business areas.

• In support of enhanced pedestrian safety, the Department of Transportation is developing a pedestrian safety/crossing program that establishes the most appropriate traffic control device (beacon or signal) to be used for uncontrolled or midblock crossings. This program will be based on national/international document reviews, before and after studies, and the experience of other state and local agencies regarding the placement of these devices.

Program Descriptions

  Transportation Services General Administration

The Director's Office provides overall leadership for the Department, including policy development, planning, accountability, service integration, customer service, and the formation of partnerships. It also handles administration of the day-to-day operations of the Department, including direct service delivery, budget and fiscal management oversight (capital and operating), training, contract management, logistics...

  Parking Outside the Parking Districts

This program administers, operates, and maintains the parking program outside the Parking Districts. Included in this program are residential permit parking and peak hour traffic enforcement. The residential permit parking program is responsible for the sale of parking permits and parking enforcement in these areas. Participation in the program...

  Transportation Policy, Planning, and Project Development

This program formulates transportation and related environmental policy and provides leadership in developing a capital improvements program that achieves policy goals. In addition this program provides coordination with regional entities to ensure compliance with environmental requirements and reviews developer plans to ensure that transportation infrastructure constructed by the private...

  Community/Transportation Safety

This program provides engineering studies that evaluate: pedestrian and traffic operations and safety deficiencies, parking conflicts, new streetlighting requests and repairs, traffic signing and pavement marking needs, and sight distance concerns, on neighborhood streets, arterial roads, and major roadways. The program also provides for the installation and maintenance of...

  Transportation Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance

Roadway maintenance includes hot mix asphalt road patching (temporary and permanent roadway repairs, skin patching, and crack sealing); shoulder maintenance; and storm drain maintenance, including erosion repairs, roadway ditch and channel repairs, cleaning enclosed storm drains, and repair and/or replacement of drainage pipes. Related activities include: mowing; roadside vegetation...

  Non- Roadway Right of Way Maintenance

The operating budget portion of the Tree Maintenance program provides for emergency tree maintenance services in the public rights-of-way. The program provides priority area-wide emergency tree and stump removal and pruning to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, minimize damage to property, and provide adequate road clearance and...

  Transportation Management, Operations and Emergency/Storm Response

This program is responsible for the removal of storm debris within County right-of-ways and snow from County roadways. This includes plowing and applying salt and sand; equipment preparation and cleanup from snow storms; and wind and rain storm cleanup. Efforts to improve the County's snow removal operation have included...

  Automation

The Automation Program provides staffing, material, and support to develop and maintain information systems in support of the Department's business operations. This includes the purchase and maintenance of IT equipment, service and support for major business systems, strategic visioning and analysis for planned IT investments, and day-to-day end use support....

  Bike Share

This program provides for the planning, management and operation of the Capital Bikeshare Program in Montgomery County. The purpose of this program is to develop additional options for short trips, promote the use of transit and contribute to a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment. This includes management and...

  Bridge Maintenance

This program provides for the basic maintenance of bridges and box culverts along County-maintained roadways, including removal of debris under and around bridges; wall and abutment repainting; trimming trees and mowing banks around bridge approaches; and guardrail repair. Minor asphalt repairs and resurfacing of bridges and bridge approaches are also...

  Transportation Engineering and Management Services

This program oversees a portion of the transportation programs, monitors and evaluates standards, investigates complaints, and implements strategies to maximize cost savings. This program is also responsible for the personnel, budget, and finance functions of several divisions in the Department of Transportation, providing essential services to the Department and serving...

  Resurfacing

This program provides for the contracted pavement surface treatment of the County's residential and rural roadway infrastructure....

  Roadway and Related Maintenance

Roadway maintenance includes hot mix asphalt road patching (temporary and permanent roadway repairs, skin patching, and crack sealing); shoulder maintenance; and storm drain maintenance, including erosion repairs, roadway ditch and channel repairs, cleaning enclosed storm drains, and repair and/or replacement of drainage pipes. Related activities include: mowing; roadside vegetation clearing...

  Snow Removal/Wind/Rain Storms

This program is responsible for the removal of storm debris within County right-of-ways and snow from County roadways. This includes plowing and applying salt and sand; equipment preparation and cleanup from snow storms; and wind and rain storm cleanup. Efforts to improve the County's snow removal operation have included public...

  Streetlighting

This program is responsible for investigation of citizen requests for new or upgraded streetlights; design or review of plans for streetlight installations on existing roads, bikeways and pedestrian facilities, and projects that are included in the CIP; coordination and inspection of streetlight installations and maintenance by utility companies; maintenance of...

  Traffic Planning

This program provides for traffic engineering and safety review of road construction projects in the CIP and for review of master plans, preliminary development plans, and road geometric standards from a pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic engineering and safety standpoint. The program also conducts studies to identify small scale projects to...

  Traffic and Pedestrian Safety

This program provides for engineering studies to evaluate and address concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety and parking issues on neighborhood streets, arterial roads, and major roadways. Data on speed, vehicular and pedestrian volumes, geometric conditions, and collision records are collected and analyzed. Plans are developed to enhance neighborhood and...

  Traffic Sign and Marking

This program provides for engineering investigations of citizen complaints about traffic signs, street names, pavement markings (centerline, lane lines, edge lines, crosswalks, raised pavement markers, etc.) and inadequate visibility at intersections. It also designs, reviews, and inspects traffic control plans for CIP road projects and for permit work performed in...

  Traffic Signals & Advanced Transportation Mgmt System

This program provides for the general engineering and maintenance activities associated with the design, construction, and maintenance of traffic signals, the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS), and the communication infrastructure that supports these programs and the County's fiber optic network. Included in this program are proactive and reactive maintenance of...

  Transportation Community Outreach

The Transportation Community Outreach program's objective is to inform County residents of DOT's services, programs, and procedures; enhance their understanding of the Department's organization and responsibilities; enhance their ability to contact directly the appropriate DOT office; and provide feedback so DOT can improve its services. Staff works with the Public...

  Property Acquisition

This program is responsible for acquiring land for transportation capital projects. Property Acquisition staff works with licensed real estate appraisers and other real estate professionals to assess a property's fair market value and provide just compensation to property owners from whom land and/or other property rights are taken for public...

  Transportation Planning

The Transportation Engineering Planning Unit manages the Facility Planning, Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area and the Annual Bikeways programs. Prior to a capital project being funded for design and construction, it must first undergo Facility Planning. The planning process examines multi-modal transportation improvements that are in compliance with area master...

  Transportation Design

This program provides for the development of engineering construction plans and specifications for all transportation-related projects in the County's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). This includes the planning, surveying, and designing of roads, bridges, traffic improvements, pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit facilities, and storm drains; as well as the inventory, inspection,...

  Transportation Construction

This program provides overall construction contract administration, construction management and inspection of the Department's transportation CIP projects. This includes performing constructability reviews, preparing and awarding construction contracts, monitoring construction expenditures and schedules, processing contract payments, providing construction inspection, and inspecting and testing materials used in capital projects. It measures...

  Traffic Management and Operations

The Traffic Management and Operations program provides for the daily operations of the County's transportation management program that includes operations of the Transportation Management Center (TMC), the computerized traffic signal system, and multi-agency incident management response and special event traffic management. This program also provides hardware and software for the...

  Transportation Policy

This program provides for the integration of all transportation plans, projects, and programs to ensure Department-wide coordination and consistency. The program provides a strategic planning framework for the identification and prioritization of new County and State capital operating transportation projects and programs. The program advocates and explains the County's transportation...

  Tree Maintenance

The operating budget portion of the Tree Maintenance program provides for emergency tree maintenance services in the public rights-of-way. The program provides priority area-wide emergency tree and stump removal and pruning to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, minimize damage to property, and provide adequate road clearance and sign,...

  Vacuum Leaf Collection

The Vacuum Leaf Collection program provides two vacuum leaf collections to the residents in the Leaf Vacuuming District during the late fall/winter months. Vacuum leaf collection is an enhanced service which complements homeowner responsibilities related to the collection of the high volume of leaves generated in this part of the...