Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council review the letter requesting a modification to Ride On route #45 to stop on the Montgomery College campus.

Discussion
The Mayor and Council discussed Ride On service to Montgomery College on June 14, 2010 under the 'New Business' portion of the agenda. Councilmember Pierzchala reported that on June 8 a majority of the College Gardens Civic Association meeting attendees voted to request that the City send a letter to Ride On requesting a change in Route #45. Given the closure of the College fence at the Princeton Place cul-de-sac, the Civic Association is seeking more convenient access between the College Gardens and Plymouth Woods neighborhoods and the campus. At this time, the most direct route to campus for pedestrians from those two neighborhoods requires walking east on College Parkway and through the Scarborough Square apartment complex.

The neighborhoods would like Ride On Route #45 to stop on the campus as it makes its way to and from College Parkway. That would provide direct access by public transit to the campus from College Gardens, Plymouth Woods and other Rockville neighborhoods. This access is particularly important for individuals with disabilities who have difficulty walking the longer distance to campus.

The Mayor and Council directed staff to draft a letter to Montgomery County Transit Services to request that Ride On Route #45 be adjusted to stop on the Rockville campus of Montgomery College. A draft letter is attached for your review and comment.

Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council have been involved in discussions, community meetings, correspondence with Montgomery College, the County and the State, and other activities since early 2009 in an effort to resolve neighborhood concerns with the closure of the fence between the campus and the Princeton Place cul-de-sac.

Next Steps
Staff will make any requested changes to the letter, include the Mayor and Councilmembers signature blocks and send the letter to Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Division of Transit Services.

The Mayor and Council also directed staff on June 14, 2010 to resend the letter dated March 23, 2010 to Vice President and Provost Judy Ackerman to the College's new Rockville Campus President. The new President begins her term in August 2010. Staff will prepare the letter and send it in August.

Attachments

Department Head:


Jenny Kimball, Assistant City Manager
Approved on: 06/15/2010

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 06/15/2010