Fourteen street segments near the future Purple Line Manchester Place station in Silver Spring would get new sidewalks, crosswalks and curb ramps under a Montgomery County proposal now open for public comment.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is proposing 5-foot-wide, ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks on county roads within a half mile of the station, which is under construction on Plymouth Street. MCDOT will present revised concept plans, cost estimates and a project timeline at a virtual public hearing on Thursday, July 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
No project cost estimate has been made public. MCDOT says cost details will be presented at the hearing.
The proposed segments span Saybrook Avenue, Wire Avenue, Melbourne Avenue, Providence Avenue, Oldham Road, East Schuyler Road, two stretches of Eton Road, Geren Road, Reading Road, Bradford Road and three segments of Plymouth Street. The improvements also include new crosswalks and ADA curb ramps at intersections.
MCDOT held an earlier public workshop in April, covering both the Manchester Place and Long Branch station proposals. The July 30 hearing will focus on revised plans updated since that session. Revised plans dated June 2026 are posted on the project website.
Purple Line construction context
The sidewalk proposal comes as the Purple Line nears operational readiness. Crews began live-wire testing of a light rail vehicle between the Lyttonsville Operations and Maintenance Facility and Bethesda Station in June 2026. Work on the Plymouth Tunnel and Manchester Place Station continues, including the west portal at Wayne Avenue and track installation inside the tunnel.
MCDOT said the sidewalks will provide pedestrian access between the station and surrounding neighborhoods, particularly for residents without cars. The work is part of a countywide ADA sidewalk compliance program announced by County Executive Marc Elrich in an April 7 press release covering the county's spring infrastructure season.
How to weigh in
Written testimony carries the same weight as oral testimony, according to MCDOT. Public input "is encouraged and may influence the final decision," the department said on its project page.
The comment deadline is Monday, August 31, at 5 p.m. Residents can submit comments through an online form or by emailing MCDOT Planning Specialist Lori Main at [email protected]. The Thursday, July 30, hearing requires online registration through Zoom.
Those needing special accommodations must contact Main by Wednesday, July 22. Robert Gonzales, MCDOT's Sidewalk Section Chief, can be reached at 240-777-7296. Main is available at 240-777-7271.
