Through the use of bonds and a grant form the State of Maryland, Montgomery County officials financed development of the $30-million project. The six-level garage will be open for use by transit customers, as well as by visitors to the Strathmore Hall Arts Center upon its completion."In 2002, our region's highways were ranked as the third most congested in the nation, so the 1,500 cars we're taking off the road with this new garage will make a real difference," Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority Board chairman Bob Smith says. WMATA will lease the Walker Parking Associates-designed structure from the county, and will be in charge of operating and maintaining it.