Days after a major winter storm swept through the county, many bus stops and sidewalks remain blocked by snow and ice, forcing riders to wait in the street and step into traffic when boarding and exiting buses.
Ride On announced it would resume its normal weekday service schedule Friday, Jan. 30, even as cleanup continues in many neighborhoods.
Several routes serving upper Montgomery County are affected, including: Ride On Route 90, which connects Damascus with Shady Grove Metro Station via Airpark and serves Woodfield Road. Bus stops in Clarksburg and Germantown are also affected.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation said that, as of 9 a.m. Friday, crews have cleared more than 5,300 lane miles of snow and ice. The county reported using 550 pieces of equipment and nearly 600 personnel over 70 continuous hours of operations.
While major roadways have largely been cleared, residents say sidewalks and bus stops have lagged behind, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and transit riders.
MCM News requested comment from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and no response has been received at the time of publication.
“People forget the roads don’t just need to be cleared,” one Montgomery County resident wrote on Reddit. “There needs to be safe bus stops that right now are piled under snow.”
Parents have also raised concerns about children and a possible return to school next week. “My first grader walks 0.75 miles to school every day, and the sidewalks are nowhere near passable,” another resident wrote on Reddit. “It’s not safe for kids to walk in the street.”
Residents continue to urge county officials to prioritize clearing sidewalks and bus stop access points, particularly in communities where public transit is a primary mode of transportation.
All Montgomery County Public Schools activities are canceled through the weekend to allow personnel and equipment to continue cleanup efforts, including clearing sidewalks and bus stops.
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