MoCo gets $15 million for transit, roads

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation reports that it has received more than $15 million in stimulus funds for traffic and transit improvements.

The Division of Highway Services received about $6.7 million for paving projects on deteriorated roads that are scheduled to be completed by late this year. The improvements include replacing curbs, gutters, sidewalks and pavement and installing pavement markers. The roads include:
-- More than 10 lane miles of Shady Grove Road from Interstate 270 to Darnestown Road.
-- More than 10 lane miles of Old Columbia Pike from Maryland Route 198 to U.S. Route 29.
-- About 10 lane miles of Barnesville Road from Mount Ephraim Road to Maryland Route 117.
-- More than four lane miles of Randolph Road from east of Nebel Street to Rock Creek Bridge.
-- About five lane miles of Travilah Road from Dufier Road to Rover Road.
-- About 3.7 lane miles of Wightman Road from Brink Road to Goshen Road.
-- About 3.6 lane miles of Forest Glen Road from Maryland Route 97 to Brunett Avenue.

The county's Division of Transit Services received $6.55 million to replace existing buses with 12 diesel electric hybrids and one diesel bus, all of which will be delivered in September.

The Division of Traffic Engineering received about $1.75 million to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. Those projects include:
-- Upgrading guardrail end treatments along some federal roads, which has been completed.
-- Installing traffic signal power backups, which was completed.
-- Upgrading traffic warning signs to improve visibility at night and during inclement weather (also completed).
-- Installing streetlights along MD Route 124.