The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has launched its new "Shared Streets" program to support safe, physically distanced activity from the COVID-19 health crisis. The initiative will involve looking for temporary ways to modify existing uses of County sidewalks, roads, on-street parking and parking lots to provide extra space residents and businesses could use to comply with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) spacing guidelines.

Under Shared Streets, MCDOT will be testing temporary changes to rights of way and public spaces that could include closing one lane or more to support recreation, using on-street parking for retail or dining activity or opening parking lots for food hall activity. Shared Streets will be one part of the County's overall initiative to support outdoor dining, with more information to come soon with a dedicated website for all government-related resources.

Working with community and government partners, MCDOT will continue to identify priority locations for retail pick up, outdoor restaurant space and social activity, as well as locations where pedestrian volumes are likely to be high and pedestrian space is limited.