Infrastructure and Land Use Committee Briefing: A Conversation with MCDOT Director Christopher Conklin

On April 5, 2022, MCCC’s Infrastructure and Land Use Committee received a briefing from Chris Conklin, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). Mr. Conklin discussed Montgomery County’s transportation initiatives and priorities, including the proposal to fund the construction of two major Bus Rapid Transit projects.

MCDOT has roughly 1,200 employees and receives $230 million in funding that is used to building and maintaining Montgomery County’s infrastructure. This infrastructure includes roads, paths, lighting, bus shelters, crosswalks, sidewalks, and drainage systems. Currently, there are 125 projects costing $245 million in the proposal capital budget. Long-term goals include transitioning the County’s 400 buses to zero emissions by 2035.

Mr. Conklin said that he is also focused on three priority areas:

• implementing programs to eliminate serious and fatal collisions on roads and for pedestrians and bikes by 2030
  
• adapting transportation and demand management programs to focus on environmental and climate resiliency
  
• connecting business districts and disadvantaged communities to opportunities in the rest of region.