Rockville 2040 Transportation Plan On Agenda For Thursday Meeting

ROCKVILLE, MD — Transportation improvements will be the subject of the Rockville City Council and mayor's special meeting on Thursday.

They're meeting as part of an ongoing discussion about the Rockville 2040 plan, which sets goals for improvement projects in the city. The transportation section looks at all ways people get around Rockville: walking, biking, driving, and public transportation.

Some of the major goals include making Rockville a more walkable city, reducing traffic and improving public transportation.

"Balancing the need to provide access with a desire to limit impacts is a major challenge for the Rockville community," the plan says. "Working to reduce the number of trips made in vehicles during a transition to more walkable urban forms is important to achieving a number of safety and sustainability goals."

The goals are based on public comments which largely called for better pedestrian access between residential areas and active spots in town, as well as across major roads and railroad tracks, the plan says.

"Comments support the city’s continuing to build its bicycle network, with some advocating for a more aggressive approach to incorporating bicycle infrastructure into its rights of way," the plan said. "Others wanted to ensure that on-street parking would not be sacrificed by installing bicycle lanes. There is wide support for improved transit, though no clear consensus regarding the type that it should be, with some support for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system and for a local trolley service."

The mayor and council met Monday night to discuss two zones in the Rockville 2040 plan— one (which covers the Town Center) and three (Hungerford, New Mark Commons and Lynnfield). Those two areas have transportation projects outlined, including expanding a pedestrian bridge to become a promenade, and improving lighting in the pedestrian tunnel under Maryland Avenue.

Meetings are being held remotely — residents can view the livestream on Rockville 11, channel 11 on county cable, at www.rockvillemd.gov/rockville11, and or watch the next day at www.rockvillemd.gov/videoondemand.

Read the full transportation plan here.