Would You Pay to Park at the MARC Station?

Anne Arundel County will perform a feasibility study surrounding the construction of a new structured garage at the Odenton MARC station, and officials hinted that commuters would eventually have to pay to park there. 

The study, slated to cost about $150,000, would examine how the county can use of four parcels of land that it owns near the MARC station. County transportation planners said they will explore construction of a four- or five-story garage to accomodate between 1,200 and 1,700 cars. 

The parking garage would free up some land to allow for a large transit-oriented real estate development, and the state of Maryland could also build a garage or two.

Several developers along with the county and state have outlined rough plans for a mixed-use complex at the site, but the funding and construction of the garages remains a hurdle. 

George Cardwell, the county's lead transportation planner, said it's unclear how a garage will be paid for, noting that garages generally cost between $15,000 and $20,000 per space to construct. 

"It begs the question... are people going to have to start paying to use the garage?" Cardwell said. 

He noted that people have shown a willingness to pay for parking at other transit stops, including those operated by Metro.

The discussion of parking at the MARC station comes as demand for spaces is increasing. The MARC lots currently has about 2,200 spaced, but the Maryland Transit Administration said it wants to add a least 1,000 more, Cardwell said. 

The county is now in the process of finding a group to carry out the study and hopes to have a report by next spring. 

Would you continue to ride MARC if parking was no longer free? If so, how much would you be willing to pay?