Bethesda's Garage 40 To Re-Open Friday Morning; Official Ceremony Planned

ba/garage.pr 97-299 Contact: Scott Wainwright, 301-217-2190

BETHESDA'S GARAGE 40
TO RE-OPEN FRIDAY MORNING;
OFFICIAL CEREMONY PLANNED For Immediate Release: Sept. 30, 1997

Parking in Bethesda will receive a much-needed boost this week when the newly
renovated Garage 40, located between Cordell and St. Elmo avenues re-opens.
County officials and representatives of the Bethesda business community will cut the
ribbon to open the facility at 8:30 a.m. on October 3.
The re-opening of Garage 40, with its 326 spaces (including 10 handicapped spaces),
and the recent opening of the Metropolitan garage at corner of Old Georgetown Road and
Woodmont Avenue, brings the total number of public parking spaces in downtown Bethesda
to 6,435.
As a special "thank you" to the Bethesda community for enduring the nine-month
project, the County will provide free parking in the newly renovated garage for its first week
back in service. Parking patrons will not need to pay the meters until 7 a.m. on Tuesday,
October 14.
"The re-opening of Garage 40 is very good news for the Bethesda business community
and all those who work in and visit the downtown area," said County Executive Douglas M.
Duncan, who will help cut the ribbon at the official event.
"Not only will the garage be structurally safer and look better, it is opening more than
-more-

GARAGE 40 RE-OPENS . 2-2-2-2

a month and a half early. This means more parking spaces in time for the 'Best of Bethesda'
events this weekend and for the upcoming holiday shopping season."
"Parking is at the heart of business success in the central business district," said Anne
Core, executive director of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.
"We're delighted that we can now accommodate an additional 300 parking patrons in the
downtown area.
"The Chamber gratefully acknowledges the patience of the restaurants and businesses
located near the Cordell-St. Elmo Garage and thanks them for their efforts in planning
parking alternatives during the closure," Core added. "It's exciting that their customers can
now park closer, several months ahead of schedule."
Core also commended "the cooperation of Bethesda businesses and a team of County
transportation officials dedicated to bringing convenient, safe parking back to Bethesda as
quickly as possible."
Included in the $2.6 million renovation project, which began in January, are new
elevated concrete decks with a membrane which improves structural safety, facilitates
cleaning and improves the overall appearance of the facility.
Also included are new high pressure sodium lights which provide customers with a
much brighter lighting system. New modern elevators with stainless steel interiors have been
installed. Other updates include new signs at the entrances on St. Elmo and Cordell avenues,
improved signage and new electronic parking meters inside the garage.

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