Bethesda plans change to parking charges
Residents of Bethesda may have to pay considerably more for street parking if a new proposal passes.
The proposal is the idea of Marc Elrich, the Montgomery County Executive, who hopes that by hiking the cost to park on the street, more drivers will opt instead to leave their vehicle in parking garages. The increase would almost double the street parking fees, to $4 per hour.
Officials of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation are not willing to make a public comment until they see the reaction from the public, though they said they are meeting with the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce to learn what impact the fee increase might have on shoppers and businesses.
FOX 5 spoke with a number of people, and few are in favor of the idea, particularly as the increase is so dramatic. Some said that if the fee increases to $4, they will either not visit downtown at all, make fewer visits, or take public transportation rather than driving. Others said parking was already difficult, and raising the price seems unfair. If a measure like this passes, officials can use poster printing to create signs reminding drivers of the change.
One business owner, though, does not believe the rate increase will have much impact. She added that most of the customers to the area already live there, and if they do drive, they're already using the parking garages.
If the plan is approved, the new fees could go into effect this summer.
The proposal is the idea of Marc Elrich, the Montgomery County Executive, who hopes that by hiking the cost to park on the street, more drivers will opt instead to leave their vehicle in parking garages. The increase would almost double the street parking fees, to $4 per hour.
Officials of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation are not willing to make a public comment until they see the reaction from the public, though they said they are meeting with the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce to learn what impact the fee increase might have on shoppers and businesses.
FOX 5 spoke with a number of people, and few are in favor of the idea, particularly as the increase is so dramatic. Some said that if the fee increases to $4, they will either not visit downtown at all, make fewer visits, or take public transportation rather than driving. Others said parking was already difficult, and raising the price seems unfair. If a measure like this passes, officials can use poster printing to create signs reminding drivers of the change.
One business owner, though, does not believe the rate increase will have much impact. She added that most of the customers to the area already live there, and if they do drive, they're already using the parking garages.
If the plan is approved, the new fees could go into effect this summer.