The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce is taking a cautiously optimistic stance on a proposal that would increase on-street parking rates in Bethesda to as much as $3.25 per hour during busy times.
County Executive Marc Elrich had suggested a $4 per hour maximum rate, with the price of parking less during off-peak hours. The goal of the “demand pricing” model is to encourage more use of public garages to free up short-term spaces in front of businesses.
The council’s Transportation and Environment Committee took a preliminary vote Thursday to set $3.25 as the maximum peak price. On-street parking is now $2.25 per hour from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Bethesda chamber President and CEO Ginanne Italiano wrote in an email that based on conversations they have had with officials from the county’s Department of Transportation, the maximum rate would only be applied “along a few strategic blocks with the intent to spur greater turnover and parking availability in those strategic locations.”
“Although there are numerous details yet to be determined, DOT has promised to work cooperatively with the chamber regarding the locations, signage and notification/education to the public regarding the implementation of the proposed new demand pricing model,” she wrote.
Italiano added that the chamber would not support an across-the-board rate increase for garages, surface lots or on-street parking. But said the chamber would not oppose the parking rate increase as proposed by the Department of Transportation.
In a separate letter dated April 22, Bethesda chamber Chairwoman Jane Fairweather wrote that the program must be “thought through and coordinated with the public before the implementation of the rate changes.” Fairweather added that parking rates should not exceed those in Friendship Heights.
Thursday’s council committee meeting also included preliminary votes to extend parking enforcement hours in Silver Spring to 10 p.m. at increased rates of $1.25 or less in garages and $2.25 or less for on-street parking.
Gates in garages will remain lowered all night in order to prevent drivers from leaving their car in the garage past 10 p.m. and then driving out for free. Maureen McNulty, a spokeswoman with the Department of Transportation, said this would net about $1.6 million by fiscal 2021.
The committee also voted Thursday to extend parking enforcement hours in Wheaton to 10 p.m. during the week. McNulty said that change would net an additional $125,000 in revenue for fiscal 2020.
The full council will take action on Elrich’s budget at a meeting later this month.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
