Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the County Council are investigating the county’s ability to force lower fees charged to restaurants by food delivery apps, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash.
The county’s Department of Transportation launched a new bus rapid transit service yesterday with a media-only event that included County Executive Marc Elrich, Casey Anderson, chair of the Planning Board, and Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5). The BRT, known as Flash, will run in a 14-mile segment of U.S Route 29 from Burtonsville to the Silver Spring Transit Center, offering limited-stop service seven days a week.
The County Council yesterday approved a bill that would exempt 100% of the property tax for a project built on property leased from WMATA at a Metro station in the county. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would apply to construction of new high-rise development that includes at least 50% rental housing and be in effect for 15 years.
County Executive Marc Elrich has issued an updated executive order allowing food service establishments to sell alcohol after 10 p.m.
The County Council yesterday unanimously passed a special appropriation of $7,687,000 to assist both childcare providers and families who need full-day care for school-age children. The funding includes $1.8 million to help providers that have incurred increased COVID-19-related expenses and lost revenues from both lower classroom capacity and being unable to open in school spaces since March.
Childcare providers and working families with school-age children could receive financial support via a special appropriation introduced by the County Council yesterday. The appropriation of nearly $7.7 million would include $1.8 million provide grants to full day, school-age childcare services reopening in Montgomery County Public Schools buildings.
Picnickers in nine county parks will be able to enjoy alcoholic drinks with their meals beginning on Thursday, Sept. 24. The action is a pilot program that will run through May 31, 2021 as part of the Picnic in the Park initiative launched in August. Picnic in the Park allows park visitors to easily find nearby restaurants offering takeout and delivery.
Fans of outdoor entertainment now will be able to attend performances under certain guidelines released yesterday by the county. Audiences will be limited to 50 attendees, who must buy tickets in advance and will have to maintain social distancing (at least six feet) from those who are not part of the same household.
Montgomery Parks will close two sections of Sligo Creek Parkway tomorrow, Sept. 18 to vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. The sections are:
Parkway from Colesville Road to Wayne Avenue, and
Parkway from Kennebec Avenue to Maple Avenues.