County Looking Into Shrinking Lot 31

Montgomery County is looking into reducing the size of a large public parking garage planned for the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The move would reduce the cost of the garage, originally estimated to cost about $86 million, according to Ken Hartman, director of the

The garage would be funded largely through Bethesda’s parking lot district, not general funds. and some have questioned whether it would be used during the week.

Groundbreaking on the lot is now looking like it will happen in the fall, not in July as was originally estimated, Hartman said. The lot will be located near a future south entrance to the Bethesda Metrorail station and a planned stop on the Purple Line. Retail and residential space is also planned for the space above the lot.

Though it's still preliminary, Hartman said the county is looking into eliminating the lower level of the parking garage, which should result in savings.

“Every level you go down, the cost increases dramatically,” Hartman said.

Cost and a re-visit of parking demand studies prompted the move, Hartman said.

How much money would be saved is still unclear. The move could reduce the total number of parking spots from about 1,450 to about 1,150. Some of those spots would be reserved for private residential and retail parking, so the total number of public spots would likely be around 800, Hartman said. Initially, the estimate for public spots was just under 1,150.

The county is working on a public information rollout during the construction period when the current surface lot – and about 270 spaces – will close. The construction will also mean that a portion of Woodmont Avenue south of Bethesda Avenue will be closed temporarily to traffic.

Hartman said that more short-term parking will be made available in the Bethesda-Elm garage, and office workers who park in the lot long term will be encouraged to park in other lots farther away. Bethesda Circulator service will be increased to accommodate those parkers, Hartman said.

Capital Crescent Trail users will be encouraged to use the public lot east of Wisconsin Avenue near Waverly.

“This is going to be a big deal for downtown Bethesda,” Hartman said. “We have to be ready for it.”