No road diet for Arlington Road

Despite several pedestrian-involved collisions in recent years on Arlington Road, Montgomery County will not put the arterial route on a "road diet." The County Department of Transportation has completed an engineering study it announced last year. Based on the study results, MCDOT is planning to make other changes along Arlington Road, rather than narrow it. These include adding pedestrian-only cycles to traffic signals at several intersection, so that there won't be cars turning while people are crossing in the crosswalks.

Near Bethesda Elementary School, pedestrians will get extra lead time before signals allow cars to start moving forward. These signal changes are expected to be implemented early next year. MCDOT is also looking at adding a missing crosswalk on Bradley Boulevard where it meets Arlington, on the CVS side. Bradley Boulevard is a state route, controlled by the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Prior to their recent study, MCDOT says it had already improved and installed speed limit signage along Arlington, slightly expanded the "school hours" time and flashing lights that warn of the 5 MPH reduction in speed during those periods, and installed high visibility crosswalks at the intersection near the school.