A bill under consideration by the Montgomery County Council would provide discounted public parking permits for child care center workers and social workers in homelessness services who are affected by Purple Line construction in downtown Silver Spring.
Introduced Tuesday, the legislation is sponsored by Council President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4), who represents the affected area, with co-sponsoring support from councilmembers Sidney Katz (D-Dist. 3), Kristin Mink (D-Dist. 5) and Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7).
“We see this as a way that we as a government agency can really step up and support the work of our unhoused [services] providers and our child care providers,” Stewart said.
The Purple Line, a 16-mile light-rail line that will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County under the operation of the Maryland Transit Administration, is slated to be complete in late 2027. Construction has impacted parts of downtown Silver Spring, including the area near the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center, which will include a Purple Line station.
Construction on the line has impacted a number of roads in downtown Silver Spring, reducing access to parking and local businesses.
The bill would establish a parking permit rate for specialized service providers that is less than the rate currently charged in county garages and on parking meters. County parking rates vary based on the type of parking, but the bill would require that the discounted permit cost just 5% of the regular rate for the corresponding regular permit.
It would also authorize the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to review the eligibility of service providers and determine whether they qualify for a discounted permit. A public hearing on the proposed legislation is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 25 during the council meeting.
“We have an incredible need,” Stewart said. “We need to do everything we can to support our providers, especially those working with our unhoused population.”
Stewart said the county has looked at underutilized garages in the downtown Silver Spring area and officials believe that establishing the discount program may also increase their use.
The program would have a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2032, or five years after the Purple Line opens, whichever comes first.
“It is a very practical way of dealing with an ongoing problem,” Luedtke said. “This is a great way to make sure we’re taking care of those who are taking care of our most vulnerable.”
Washington, D.C., offers a similar program for health aide workers, according to the council agenda packet.
Purple Line construction led to Metro Red Line station closures on the eastern side of the county this summer, impacting transit options. The Takoma Metro station was closed from June 1 until June 30 and the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring stations were closed from June 1 until Sept. 1.
Making progress
Construction on the Purple Line began in 2017. In March, the expected completion date of the Purple Line was pushed back from the spring of 2027 to December of that year. Since the project’s inception, construction of the light-rail line has faced numerous delays and rising costs that are nearing $10 billion.
In May, the project marked a milestone with the opening of the Talbot Avenue Bridge in Silver Spring after roughly seven years of closure. The bridge is near the future Lyttonsville Purple Line station.
Shortly after, the Spring Street Bridge in Silver Spring closed in June for Purple Line construction and is not expected to reopen until 2025. During the closure, the existing bridge, paved for vehicle traffic over rail tracks, will be demolished and Purple Line crews will build a new span, according to MDOT.
In July, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Purple Line project team unveiled the first Purple Line vehicle at a press conference in Prince George’s County. Each light-rail vehicle measures 142 feet, the longest of its kind in the nation, according to the state transportation department.
At the time, Maryland transit officials said the light-rail project was more than 65% complete, “with thousands of feet of rail track installed and 16 of 21 stations currently under construction.” No update has been provided since then.
