Montgomery County Planning presented a new Parking Facility Design Guide to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, November 5, outlining recommendations to improve safety, accessibility and sustainability in parking lots and garages throughout the county.
According to Montgomery Planning, approximately 125 people per year were struck by vehicles in parking lots and garages between 2016 and 2024, excluding 2020 and 2021. During that period, crashes in parking facilities resulted in five pedestrian deaths and 1,532 reported injuries.
The guide provides recommendations for both privately owned and county-owned parking facilities, including reducing vehicle speeds, improving pedestrian crossings and visibility, creating safer walking and biking routes, and improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
The project was supported by a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded in 2023 and is intended to support Montgomery County’s Vision Zero traffic safety goals.
The Planning Board reviewed the draft guide Thursday and provided comments that will be incorporated into the final version, which will be published on Montgomery Planning’s website.
