Community Corner

Long-Term Parking Fees to Rise in Bethesda Lots, Garages

But parkers won't be charged on Saturdays as originally proposed.

Beginning July 1, Bethesda parkers will be charged more to park long-term in lots and garages in the downtown. But parkers won't be charged on Saturdays -- the plan (D).

The Montgomery County Council voted Tuesday to hike fees in Bethesda and Silver Spring, but the vote came after 

The Examiner reports the hikes are expected to generate $650,000 of revenue for Bethesda. But the revenue won't go towards general tax funds and the county's $300 million budget gap, members of the Bethesda business community pointed out at an April 26 public hearing.

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parking fees in downtown Bethesda fund Bethesda’s parking lot district, dedicated to specific uses in downtown Bethesda including funding and maintaining parking lots and funding the 

At the April public hearing, County Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) said the fees were intended to restore the health of the parking lot district, which is funding , a major new parking garage project which has yet to break ground at the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda avenues.

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is not about raising revenue; this is about restoring the health of the PLD, which is funding the most costly parking lot in our county. The Bethesda business community said, ‘We need all these spaces,’” Berliner said at the public hearing.

At Tuesday's council session, County Councilman Hans Riemer (D-At large) said he supported charging on Saturdays, the Examiner reported, though those fees were voted down. 

"I don't understand why I don't get charged for when I go into the garage on Saturday," Riemer said, according to the Examiner. "I think it's an absolute missed opportunity."


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