Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2002

Visitor Parking in Executive Office Building to be Relocated;
Security Change Part of County’s Response to September 11

Beginning August 26, new security measures will be implemented to ensure the public’s safety and that of County employees who work in and visit the government complex in downtown Rockville. Visitor parking from the G2 Level of the Executive Office Building and Judicial Center garage will be moved to the first level of the Council Office Building garage.

Following the events of September 11, and a bomb threat that resulted in evacuation of the EOB and Judicial Center, a review of safety precautions in County buildings resulted in recommendations to make them more secure, including limiting access to certain underground parking garages. All parking during evenings and weekends was restricted in the Executive Office Building and Judicial Center last September as a first step.

“Following September 11, we have taken many steps to protect the public’s safety which includes reassessing security procedures in all our public buildings,” said Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Romer. “Unfortunately, we have to plan for the worst-case scenario. But, we hope that improvements, such as installing metal detectors in the Judicial Center and limiting access to parking garages underneath buildings, will make all of us safer and more secure.”

Special parking spaces for disabled visitors to the Executive Office Building will be set aside in front of the building on Monroe Street. Other paid parking options available to the public in downtown Rockville include surface parking across from the theaters and restaurants on Middle Lane and West Montgomery Avenue; the Middle Lane Lot (Middle Lane at Maryland Avenue); and at the Rockville Metro station. Public garage parking is available at 1 Church Street; 11 North Washington Street (Whalen Building); the Victoria Apartment Complex at 255 Rockville Pike; 51 Monroe Street; and at the Jefferson Street Building. On-street metered parking is also available around the downtown area.

In December 2001, for the first time, County employees were required to obtain photo identification/access cards. These cards will be used to gain entrance to most of the assigned employee parking facilities in the Rockville core.