Montgomery County earned national recognition for initiatives that improve how residents move through their communities, prepare critical infrastructure for disruptions, and help residents make informed decisions about their health and safety.

Transportation is a major part of that work. In June 2025, Montgomery County implemented its Ride On Zero Fare Policy, eliminating passenger fares across Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex, and Flash buses. The policy aims to remove financial barriers for riders, particularly low-income and transit-dependent residents, while supporting broader mobility, economic participation, and environmental goals. Removing fares also eliminates farebox collection, which can shorten boarding times and reduce fare-enforcement conflicts.

The County also launched Flex Zone 918 in February 2026 following the discontinuation of Metrobus Z2 service along the New Hampshire Avenue corridor. The zero-fare, on-demand service combines curb-to-curb flexibility with designated stops and connections to Ride On, Flash Bus Rapid Transit, Metrobus, and Metrorail.

Residents themselves are helping shape those services through the Transit Advisory Group, which brings riders, advocates, and other stakeholders into discussions about Ride On, Flex zones, Flash corridors, and systemwide policies. The group was specifically designed to incorporate the experiences of seniors, people with disabilities, low-income riders, and historically underserved communities into transit planning.

Sometimes improving connectivity requires a much smaller-scale solution. In Silver Spring’s Kemp Mill neighborhood, residents had been using a dirt path and crossing a stream on foot to reach neighbors, shopping, and places of worship. Montgomery County staff constructed the Auth Lane Pedestrian Bridge, creating a safe, accessible, and flood-resilient year-round connection between the communities.

The County is also investing in the resilience of critical facilities. Montgomery County’s renewable energy and microgrid strategy combines solar, battery storage, and generation capabilities to allow facilities to continue operating during grid outages. The County plans to deploy 23 microgrids at strategic sites, building on efforts such as the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot microgrid.

Other award-winning initiatives use public education as a tool for building safer, more informed communities. Hawlings Heroes, a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection and Montgomery County Public Schools, teaches fifth graders about the endangered yellow lance freshwater mussel found in the Hawlings River. More than 400 students participated during the program’s first semester, with students extending the message by writing postcards to adults in their lives.

The County’s Look Before You Book campaign educates residents on how to identify safe and legally operating massage establishments while raising awareness about businesses potentially connected to human trafficking or labor exploitation. Meanwhile, the Latino Health Initiative Communications Program uses bilingual digital content across social media, video, web, and email to connect Latino families with information on maternal health, mental health, preventive care, climate and health, and County services.

Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection is taking that outreach into the podcast space. Consumer Connection covers topics ranging from romance scams and home improvement protections to cryptocurrency fraud and AI-driven impersonation schemes. The program has produced 12 episodes, generated more than 2,000 downloads, and reached audiences in more than 250 cities and towns.

From a bus ride or neighborhood bridge to resilient energy infrastructure and trusted public information, Montgomery County’s award-winning programs demonstrate the many ways local government can help communities become more connected, informed, and prepared. To learn more and see the full list of awards visit the awards page on the NACo website.

These honors are part of 165 NACo Achievement Awards earned by Maryland counties this year, recognizing programs and services across nearly every area of local government.