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Ride On passengers will have to get accustomed to more crowded buses, new schedules and a few changed routes as part of a reduction in services that began Sunday. The changes affect weekday and weekend operations.

The changes were part of a county effort to save money, while at the same time preserving at least parts of some routes.

Some segments were cut on Routes 7, 22, 32, 33 and 43. Buses will run less frequently on Routes 1, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 36, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 56, 57, 60, 61, 70, 83, 93, 97 and 100.

Bus schedules also were shifted for Routes 31, 39, 41, 45, 51, 63 and T2, a Saturday and Sunday service operated by Ride On, but the total number of trips on those routes was not cut.

Timetables for the bus routes are available online at RideOnBus.com.

County transportation officials had proposed eliminating entire routes to cut costs. But at a February public hearing attended by hundreds of bus riders, numerous speakers told county transportation officials that elimination of the routes would hurt residents who rely on the bus service to get to and from work and to do their shopping.

The changes amount to a reduction in Ride On service of slightly more than 2 percent, officials said.

County officials have estimated the cuts could save the county $1.2 million.

Metro completes

Labor Day track work

Metro reopened five Red Line Metro stations Tuesday morning that were closed during the Labor Day weekend as part of a major overhaul.

Track workers replaced old components, including two track switches at the Silver Spring Metro station, and installed 750 track fasteners, 1,720 crossties, 525 feet of track and 500 rail insulators. They also repaired a number of water leaks in the tunnels.

The system also upgraded cell phone access by adding 2,400 feet of fiber-optic communications cables.

Heater tape also was installed to outdoor tracks to help prevent the buildup of ice and snow during wintry weather.

More than 37,762 riders were transported from the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, Fort Totten, Takoma, and Georgia Avenue stations by shuttle bus because of the track work.

Some of the Labor Day weekend work was regular maintenance, while other parts, such as the track switches, were done to comply with recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board, which issued a recent report on the June 2009 fatal crash at the Fort Totten station.

The McPherson Square Metro Station will be closed on the Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 8-11, to replace the rail switch, also as recommended by the NTSB.

Metro practices emergency preparedness

Metro will remind passengers to be on the alert for any suspicious activities, and Metro Transit Police will pass out information on how to contact the police as part of National Preparedness Month this month.

Metro workers also are posting signs at station kiosks and elevators, as well as on buses, with the Metro Transit Police number: 202-962-2121.

Officials will hold six outreach events at Metro stations to provide riders with information on how to respond in an emergency and on alternative routes in the event of an emergency.

The event in Montgomery County will be at the Bethesda Metrorail station from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Sept. 16.

Among the tips offered by Metro:

-Program the Metro Transit Police phone number into your mobile phone.

-Familiarize yourself with alternative transportation in case a street or Metrorail station is closed.

-Sign up for e-mail alerts through the Metro website at www.wmata.com to learn of system disruptions.

cford@gazette.net