For Immediate Release: Monday, May 5, 2003
The new Shady Grove Metro Station Parking Garage II opened today, the largest ever built in Montgomery County and one of the largest in the country. The new 2,140-space parking garage increases existing parking at the Shady Grove Metro station by 35 percent, to a total of 5,865 spaces.
“Improving access to transit is one of the County’s highest priorities in our fight to reduce traffic congestion,” said Duncan. “The current demand for parking at Shady Grove is overwhelming and far exceeds available capacity. The popularity of the Shady Grove station means we are succeeding in our efforts to encourage commuters to take advantage of mass transit options.”
“We have all looked forward to the opening of the new Shady Grove Garage,”said Montgomery County Council President Michael L. Subin. “It is a step in improving access to Metro. Increased parking at Shady Grove will encourage more commuters to use transit, reducing congestion in the I-270 corridor.”
The County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation, Division of Facilities and Services, managed the construction project, and the garage will be operated and maintained by Metro.
“Once again, we are pleased to have Montgomery County as a partner in providing transit services to our region,” said Metro's CEO Richard A. White. “This new parking facility is an excellent example of cooperation between Metro and a local jurisdiction -- Montgomery County built this parking structure and Metro will operate it. The opening of this new parking structure will make Metrorail more user-friendly and will allow even more individuals to take advantage of public transit.”
The project took two years to complete. Parking at the garage costs $2.25, the same as in Metro lots. In addition to cash, commuters can use Metro’s ‘SmarTrip’ fare card for payment. Also starting today, parking rates at the County-owned Shady Grove Metro Parking Garage I will be lowered to match the new Metro-owned garage. Easily accessible from I-270 and I-370, the new garage has seven levels of parking, served by several stairways and four elevators. It features customer assistance phones, glass-enclosed stair towers, and an open design to enhance visibility and security.
The cost of the garage is $27.4 million, and financing was provided from revenue bonds backed by a special parking surcharge at all County Metro stations; along with a $9 million grant from the State of Maryland.
During the garage construction, special arrangements were made to accommodate displaced parkers, including providing free parking and free express bus service to the Shady Grove Metro station from a new Park and Ride Lot at I-270 and MD 124; opening of a surface parking lot at Ride On’s bus depot near the station; and making on-street parking available near the station.
With the opening of the new garage, ample parking should now be available, so starting today, parking at the Ride On bus depot lot will be discontinued. Also today, on-street parking near the station will be discontinued. The Park and Ride Lot will continue to have free parking, but starting May 19, the regular Ride On fare of $1.10 will be charged for the bus, which will run every 30 minutes.
Also starting May 5, Ride On will operate Route 77 express service from the Germantown Transit Center to the Shady Grove Metro Station every 15 minutes during rush hours. In addition, Metrobus will begin new service from the Maryland Route 124 Park and Ride Lot: Route J9 to the Medical Center and Bethesda Metro Stations, and Route 14D to the Rock Spring Business Park and Tyson’s Corner.
The Shady Grove Metro Station first opened in December 1984. With 20,000 riders, the station has the second highest ridership of all transit stations in Maryland. About 60 percent of those boarding Metro trains at Shady Grove use the park-and-ride lots serving the station. Ridership at the Shady Grove station has been growing at a rate of five percent a year. During weekday mornings, 7,000 commuters board Metro at Shady Grove, diverting 5,000 cars from I-270 – which is equivalent to four lanes of traffic.
Mariani and Associates are the architects for the new garage, Walker Parking Consultants the engineers and San Jose Construction Group, Inc. is the prime construction contractor.
For more information about Metrorail, Metrobus, or Metro parking customers can call 202-637-7000 or visit Metro’s website at www.metroopensdoors.com. For more information about Ride On bus service, call 240-777-7433, or check the County’s website at www.rideonbus.com.
1968---Metro Red Line originally planned to end in Rockville.
1975—Decision made to extend line to Shady Grove
1984---Red Line completed to Shady Grove
Segment from Rockville to Shady Grove funded:
1989---Shady Grove Garage I completed
Funding: 60% Montgomery County; 40% State of Maryland
2003---Shady Grove Garage II completion
Funding: 67% parking surcharge fee; 33% State of Maryland.
STATION RIDERSHIP 20,000 riders on average weekday; 7,000 during morning rush hour
STATION ACCESS
Bus Service: 24 Ride On routes; 1 Metrobus route; 1 MTA Flyer route
Parking Spaces:
Existing......... 4,335; When Garage II is completed.... 5,865(35% increase)
Number of Spaces: 2,140 total (1,530 net increase)
Number of parking levels: 7
Number of elevators: 4
Access: Direct from I-270/I370
Cost
Planning/Design $ 3,445,000
Site preparation 5,580,000
Garage construction 18,400,000
Total cost: $ 27,425,000
Funding Sources
State of Maryland $ 9,000,000
Metro parking surcharge 9,025,000*
County revenue bonds 9,400,000*
Construction Method: Pre-cast concrete. Over 2,000 pieces fabricated off-site to minimize disruption.
Project Designer: Walker Consultants, Engineer; Mariani & Associates, Architect
Prime Contractor: San Jose Construction Group, Inc.
Project Management: Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation, Division of Facilities and Services; Al R. Roshdieh, Division Chief; Stephen Nash, Chief, Capital Projects Section; Kassa Seyoum, Project Manager
Operation/Maintenance: The garage is leased to Metro for operation/maintenance, with lease payments to the County defraying financing costs. Parking fee is $2.25.
*Supported from surcharge on all Metro parking spaces in Montgomery County.