New Metro Displays An Improvement, But More Is Better

A third VanGo shuttle bus was added, and the route now includes stops at East-West Highway and Colesville Road, Wayne Avenue and Colesville in what's known as the "Jug Handle" (Bus Stop A in the new system) and at Bonifant Street and Georgia Avenue. A person can ride from any of these locations for free, and buses run every 12 minutes.

Two Web pages, one for the Silver Spring Transit Center at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sstc and the other for the Health and Human Services Department at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs, offer guides that help people figure out distances from the Silver Spring Station's south entrance so travelers can evaluate using an alternative station.

Pogue said the county agrees that it would be helpful to post some type of "walking warning" on the county's Web site and on Metro's Silver Spring Station page and will work on that.

That Metro Web page for Silver Spring Station does link to the map showing the new bus stop layout around the station, but it would help to have more specific information for walkers facing challenges, along with a flat-out warning that this is going to be difficult during the next two years of construction.

A couple of other suggestions:

Pedestrians, it's easier to walk along the north side of Wayne Avenue, closer to Colesville Road. Drivers, use your signal lights. The crossing guards are doing a great job at the intersections, but they're sometimes baffled about your intentions.

Dr. Gridlock appears Thursday in the Extras and Sunday in the Metro section. You can send e-mails todrgridlock@washpost.com. Include your name, community and phone numbers. Some letters are published. Get There:http://blog.washingtonpost.com/getthere.