Bethesda's Metropolitan Public Parking Garage 49 to switch payment systems January 3

Beginning January 3, 2023, there will be a new payment system inside the Metropolitan Public Parking Garage 49 at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in downtown Bethesda. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has announced that it will implement a new Pay-by-Plate system of payment that day, replacing the existing cashier system. Garage patrons will enter their tag number into a payment station, or using a downloadable app for a touchless option. Hours of operation will remain the same.

As of yesterday, the new payment stations were in place, but with covers over them. MCDOT has an instructional video online for those who are unfamiliar with Pay-by-Plate systems, which can help you be prepared and save time when you use the new system in Garage 49. Now about those elevators...

Electric vehicle charging now advertised at Bethesda-Elm Parking Garage 57

Montgomery County has added a sign to the digital "spaces available" sign outside the Bethesda-Elm Garage 57 at Bethesda Row. It advertises electric vehicle charging available inside the garage. The County Department of Transportation website currently indicates there are two charging stations available at this garage.

Assault in Bethesda Metro Center parking garage

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a parking garage at the Bethesda Metro Center Tuesday night. The assault was reported at 8:00 PM, according to crime data.

Car stolen from downtown Bethesda parking garage

Montgomery County police were called to investigate a theft of a vehicle from a Montgomery County public parking garage early yesterday afternoon. The vehicle was taken from a garage in the 7100 block of Woodmont Avenue, according to crime data. Montgomery County operates the Capital Crescent Garage on that block.

Bethesda public parking garage cleaning scheduled for nights, weekends in October

The semi-annual washdown and degreasing of the Montgomery County-operated public parking garages in Bethesda is coming up next month. Cleaning will begin with the Waverly Parking Garage 47 (evenings of October 6 & 7), Capital Crescent Garage 31 (October 8-11), and the Metropolitan Garage 49 (October 12-15).

Work will continue through the other garages as shown on the calendar here. All cleaning will take place at night or on weekends.

Groundhog Day in Bethesda as MoCo Govt. continues to refuse to repair garage elevator outage

It's Groundhog Day in Bethesda, as one of the main elevator banks in the Montgomery County Government-owned parking garage at The Metropolitan remains out of service. The ADA violation has continued since August, as our elected officials continue to thumb their collective noses at taxpayers. Our "leaders" are astonishingly unable to deliver the most-basic functions of government, as anyone who presses the button to summon the elevator here will quickly surmise.

Even as Montgomery County Councilman Evan Glass is proposing more taxes amidst already-record-high County taxation, the County has failed to repair a major elevator bank at its own Bethesda government headquarters for months. If the elevator could talk, I suspect it would say, "I just want to give you your money's worth. You paid top dollar for me." Just more evidence that we need to convert the At-Large seats on the Council to smaller district seats, as currently no councilmember is addressing basic Bethesda issues like this.

Power restored at Bethesda parking garage

The Cordell-St. Elmo public parking garage that was dark Sunday night had power again yesterday. Lights inside the garage appeared to be on by Monday morning, but full restoration was confirmed by nightfall. The outage was separate from the major blackout that affected large parts of downtown Bethesda last night.

Lights out at Bethesda parking garage (Photos)

The lights were out on all levels of the Cordell-St. Elmo Montgomery County public parking garage last night. It was primarily a public safety issue, as the garage remained open for parking. No explanation for the outage was posted.

Montgomery County garage sign damaged

The sign at the Cordell-St. Elmo public parking garage was damaged Tuesday. A panel with the Montgomery County seal has come off, and is propped up against the base of the sign. The lighted sign still works fine. It's unclear whether the damage was caused by heavy rain and blustery winds, or through vandalism.

Electric car charging stations added to 3 more Bethesda parking garages

Electric vehicle charging stations have been added to three more Montgomery County public parking garages in downtown Bethesda, bringing the number of County garages with such chargers in Bethesda to seven. The latest to add them are the Bethesda-Elm Street, Cordell-St. Elmo and Woodmont-Rugby garages.

The charging stations aren't free; there is a $0.13 per kilowatt hour fee, and EVs must still pay the regular parking fees.

Existing garages that already offered the stations were the Capital Crescent, Woodmont Corner, Waverly and Auburn-Del Ray garages.

UPDATE: Information about parking fees was updated, correcting error due to misleading signs posted in County garage.

Can an "emergency" power outage be planned in advance? Find out at Bethesda's Garage 11 Monday

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has announced there will be an "emergency power outage" in the Woodmont Corner public parking Garage 11 on Tuesday, May 30, from 4:00 AM to 5:30 AM. There is no explanation why the power will be out, nor why it isn't described as a "planned power outage."

A security team will patrol the garage during the blackout.

Cordell-St. Elmo Garage to be partially closed today and Tuesday in Bethesda

Users of the Cordell-St. Elmo Montgomery County public parking garage in downtown Bethesda take note: Parts of the garage will be closed today, May 22, and tomorrow, May 23. Crews will be performing regular cleaning and degreasing operations inside the garage both days. Watch for wet surfaces when walking or driving through the garage.

Shilla Bakery, The Fix coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Shilla Bakery, a popular local Korean bakery chain, is expanding to Westfield Montgomery Mall. Most of their locations are in Northern Virginia, including a mall store in Tysons, but they do have a bakery in Rockville. You'll find breads, cookies, cakes and pastries, as well as bubble tea, ice cream, and their famous Bingsoo shaved ice. Shilla Bakery will be next to Chick-fil-A in the Dining Terrace.

Meanwhile, the proliferation of gadget repair shops threatens to dethrone candy stores as the hot retail trend in Montgomery County. The Fix is in. Or it will be in, when The Fix opens soon on Level 2, in the Macy's wing of the mall. The Fix also offers "fashion" accessories for your devices, and assistance in integrating them in your home.

One other thing you might notice soon at Montgomery Mall, is a new set of advertising screens now being installed. The ones that are activated currently are running a "beta testing" set of messages, and promise to showcase advertising on the Westfield Network.

Finally, part of the mall's parking garage is cordoned off inside, with no signage offering an explanation.

You're a mean one, Mr. Garage: Wreaths missing on downtown Bethesda public parking garages this year (Photos)

While festive lights for the holidays can be spotted across downtown Bethesda, some Montgomery County-owned public parking garages are giving us the old "Bah humbug." The lighted Christmas wreaths ordinarily found on their facades are missing this year.

Garage work causes closures in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Two garage projects have caused two different types of closures in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood of Bethesda. A ramp repair at the Cordell-St. Elmo public parking garage has required closure of the top level.

And repairs at the Woodmont Corner garage on Old Georgetown Road have required closing the sidewalk below on the street.

Construction closes part of downtown Bethesda parking garage (Photos)

Construction has closed off part of the Cordell-St. Elmo public parking garage on Cordell and St. Elmo Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. "Proceed with caution," as the sign says.