Ride On Receiving More Than $30M In Federal Aid: Coronavirus

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Montgomery County's Department of Transportation is poised to receive more than $30 million in federal funding to support Ride On bus operations during and after the coronavirus health crisis.

The funding comes from the CARES Act, a $2 trillion emergency response package designed to provide economic relief to businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27.

"These funds will help mitigate the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on our transit system," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "I want to thank the dedicated employees of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation for leading our efforts to obtain this aid. I also want to thank our regional partners, including the leadership of WMATA and the Maryland Department of Transportation, for their work to distribute aid to affected jurisdictions in an equitable fashion."

Officials say the funds will help cover the cost of:

• Losing revenue from eliminating fare collection (since March 13)
• Implementing hazard pay for bus drivers
• Maintaining standby drivers on buses stationed across the county
• Ramping up cleaning and safety measures to protect bus riders and operators

"Ride On continues to make adjustments as the situation evolves," said MCDOT Division of Transit Chief Dan Hibbert. "Some bus routes that were cut at the start of our response have been added back because of identified community needs. We have increased midday service on routes that include hospitals and we continue to shift resources to routes that need more service to maintain safe levels of social distancing."

Cutting bus routes and modifying transit schedules aren't the only steps the county has taken to curb the spread of COVID-19.

On April 16, the county issued a health order requiring all Ride On passengers to wear a face covering whenever they take the bus. According to health officials, wearing a cloth face covering — like a bandana or scarf — may cut down on pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19.

On April 28, MCDOT started providing limited supplies of face coverings to bus passengers who could not produce their own.

The initiative is part of the county's pilot program to make personal protective equipment more accessible to riders during the pandemic.

SEE ALSO:

• Face Coverings Now Required On Montgomery County Ride On Buses
  
• Face Masks Given To MoCo Bus Riders Who Need Them: Coronavirus
  
• Chevy Chase Man, 89, Sews Coronavirus Face Masks For Hospital

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