SPEAK OUT: Proposed Bethesda Parking Fee Hikes

The is opposing a proposal that would raise long-term parking fees and expand parking enforcement hours to Saturdays in Bethesda.

The proposal, introduced by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) in March as a part of his proposed operating budget, would hike the long-term parking rates from 75 cents an hour to 85 cents an hour and bump the cost of a monthly pass from $140 to $160, effective July 1.

It would also mean that parkers would be charged on Saturdays in Bethesda lots and garages, beginning Oct. 1.

The Bethesda fee hikes are a that would also increase parking fees in Silver Spring and Wheaton and increase Ride On fares.

Speaking at a public hearing before the Montgomery County Council last week, chamber Vice President of Economic Development and Government Relations Heather Dlhopolsky argued the increased fees would add further strain to Bethesda parkers already impacted by the

"...Those who park here are working hard to adjust their habits and locate new lots and garages in which to park," Dlhopolsky said. "Now is not the time to also significantly increase the cost of parking on them."

Rather than increase long-term rates and charge parkers on Saturdays, Dlhopolsky said, the chamber is proposing taking a look at other ways to generate funds for the Bethesda parking lot district --including raising short-term parking rates to $1.25 or $1.50 an hour.

The chamber is also proposing looking into "creative" revenue streams, such as permitting advertising in garages, Dlhopolsky said.

Drawing on the results of a survey of more than 130 chamber members, Dlhopolsky listed some of the responses of the business community to the proposed fee hikes:

“Even though I subsidize the parking (by 50%) in the garage which is very expensive for a small business, I lose young employees over the disgust at how much they have to pay. … For younger workers this is a really big deal. As an employer, I am saddened by the insensitivity to the cost of getting to and staying at work, for those who don’t live in Bethesda.”

“It will increase the cost of doing business at a time when we cannot afford it. Keeping our doors open through this recession has been difficult. My staff use their cars for business all day long so carpooling and public transportation are not an option for real estate companies."

“Parking is so expensive and limited in Bethesda that I have to somehow factor it in to the overall compensation of my employees or I can’t stay competitive for really good help. They could make as much elsewhere without
the parking hassles. I buy my staff the monthly stickers, so a $20 increase is a big bump for me when you add up all the stickers I buy.”

“We are looking to move out of Bethesda because our employees and more importantly our clients complain about the parking.”

What do you think about the proposed increase in long-term parking rates and Saturday parking fees in Bethesda? Would you be willing to pay more for short-term parking instead? Are there alternative ways to raise funds for the Bethesda parking lot district? Tell us in the comments.