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On Friday, a council committee OK'd the MCDOT's plan for "demand parking" in Bethesda. This would allow the county to adjust parking rates throughout the day to fill emptier lots and garages. With the new rate structure, the county hopes to raise the maximum rate at popular downtown Bethesda garages to $1/hour, BethesdaNow reports. Garages a few blocks over can set rates as low as 60 cents to be competitive. MCDOT acting director Al Roshdieh says the county isn't looking to make more money, but rather to keep the spaces closer to downtown businesses more available for people who need them. Curbside meter parking will remain $2/hour, and the $150/month parking passes will become garage specific. If approved, the new plan will go into effect on July 1. [BN]
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