TransportationTransit escalator

Seven Oaks-Evanswood residents have an abundance of options when it comes to transportation. SOECA’s borders include three major roads: Wayne Ave., Franklin Ave., and Colesville Rd., all with multiple bus routes. We have a world class Metrorail system, safe bicycling routes, and ample parking. For those who are able, walking remains a popular option to get to jobs, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and mass transit.

Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center

SOECA residents are within walking distance–about 1/2 to 1 mile–to the Silver Spring Transit Center , a station on the Metrorail Red Line and MARC Commuter Rail, Brunswick Line.  The Center features more than 30 bus bays serving Metrobus, Montgomery County Ride-On, VanGo and the University of Maryland shuttle. Soon, several bus companies will offer intercity bus services to New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and other destinations. The Transit Center has a TRIPS store selling SmarTrip cards, and offering information on bicycling, carpools, route maps, and timetables.

Purple Line (proposed)

The State of Maryland has designed and is selecting a bidder to build and finance a Purple Line light rail route from New Carrolton through the University of Maryland campus and Silver Spring to Bethesda. Proposed stations that  will serve our neighborhood include one at Wayne Ave. and Dale Drive, and another at the Silver Spring Library at the corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street. The Maryland Transit Administration estimates that construction will start at the end of 2016 and the system will open in 2021. The Purple Line is not part of the Metrorail system, but there will be a Purple Line station at the Silver Spring Transit Center where people can transfer to the Red Line, buses, and other services.

Bus Rapid Transit (proposed)

The County Executive proposes at least four bus rapid transit routes including one down State Route 29 to the Silver Spring Transit Center. The CE has formed Community Advisory Committees (CAC) for the different routes. SOECA is represented on the committee and updates are provided after every meeting via the SOECA listserv. See more information on the South Route 29 BRT

Buses

Metrobus, Montgomery County Ride On, MTA commuter buses, a free circulator bus called VanGo, the University of Maryland shuttle (ID required), and a variety of employer shuttle buses serve our community. At the Silver Spring Transit Center, riders can catch buses for 25 different Metrobus routes. Popular routes include the 16th Street buses S2, S4 and S9 (handy when Red Line fails), the J2 (and other commuter J buses) to Bethesda and NIH, and the Z buses to White Oak/FDA and beyond (see map). 

19 Ride On routes serve the Transit Center, including the popular Route 5 to Rockville, and Routes 8 and 9 to Wheaton.

Silver Springs Van Go is a free bus service that circulates around the borders of downtown Silver Spring from the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center to the U.S. Post Office on Spring Street to the Fillmore. For timetables and destination information on the bus services below, please consult Metrobus or Ride On:

  • Buses serving Colesville Rd: Metrobus Z6, Z8, and Ride On bus routes 8, 9, 13, 14, 22.
  • Buses serving Wayne Ave: Metrobus J4, Ride On 15, 12, 19.
  • Buses serving Franklin Ave: Ride On 14
  • Buses serving Sligo Creek Parkway: Ride On 13
  • Buses serving Dale Drive: Ride On 3

Accessible Transit

Metro offers MetroAccess, a door-to-door paratransit service for people with disabilities that prevent them from accessing bus or rail. See the MetroAccess web page for more information. Montgomery County offers a Transportation Network Directory for People with Disabilities and Seniors. You can download it or order it for free, in regular or large print, from Montgomery County.

Metrorail

Metrorails Red Line serves Silver Spring. Its route is a U shape from Glenmont to Shady Grove through Washington DC. Riders can connect to Green and Yellow Lines (Reagan National Airport) at Fort Totten, and to other lines at MetroCenter and other hubs.

Taxis and Ride Share

Montgomery County has a website on taxi rules and links to licensed taxi companies.

Both Uber and Lyft serve the greater Washington area. Apps are available on their websites. You may wish to asses the risk involved, as these services do not undergo the same levels of regulatory scrutiny as taxi services.

Bridj, a ride-sharing vanpool service, is has announced future service to Montgomery County. Stay tuned.

Bicycling

Capital Bikeshare has 11 stations in Silver Spring. Closest bike racks to our neighborhood are at Ellsworth and Fenton and next to the Silver Spring Civic Building. There is also one at the Silver Spring Transit Center.

Our most popular bicycling trail is Sligo Creek Trail, which connects to Wheaton Park when traveling west, and Northwest Branch Trail–which goes to University of Maryland and the College Park Airport and beyond–when traveling east. Ellsworth Drive is a marked bike route from Silver Spring.

The Metropolitan Branch Trail is a work in progress and shares a lane with cars before moving to a dedicated trail in DC. The Met Branch Trail runs to Union Station.

The Georgetown Branch/Capital Crescent Trail, follows the unpaved route of the proposed Purple Line. and runs to downtown Bethesda. In Bethesda, it links to the north-south paved Capital Crescent Trail that goes to Georgetown. The County Executive and all County Councilmembers have pledged to fund a new paved hiker/biker Capital Crescent Trail when the Purple Line is built.

The Silver Spring Transit Center has bike racks near the entrance and bike lockers on the third level (3rd level even with Bonifant). We recommend using both a U-lock and a cable lock when locking bikes on a rack anywhere in Silver Spring. Removing the front wheel or seat are added precautions.

Parking

For those who choose to drive to downtown Silver Spring, there are many parking options. Downtown Silver Spring has 11,000 parking spaces. There is metered parking as well as County parking garages. See this map of the available garages.

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