SDOT will be making adjustments to on-street parking rates and hours of operation in various parts of the city starting in the First Hill neighborhood this month. SDOT is making the changes to create more open spaces during the daytime and early evening for visitors to the Seattle’s downtown and neighborhood business districts.
First Hill neighborhood
SDOT’s performance-based Parking Pricing Program started in 2010 when the City Council directed that on-street parking rates be set according to specific data measurements. Our goal is to help people find parking within easy walking distance of their destinations, lessen traffic congestion from drivers circling, and increase access to business. The objective, written into the Seattle Municipal Code, is to set rates so that one to two spaces are open and available on each block throughout the day.
Guided by the recently completed 2015 Annual Paid Parking Study, SDOT will make 22 different rate and other on-street parking management changes in 15 areas. What’s happening:
- Lower parking rates in five areas
- Raise parking rates in twelve areas
- Install new pay stations in eight different rate areas and adjust rates by time of day
- Extend evening paid parking hours in three areas to 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
- Pull back evening paid parking hours in one area to 6 p.m.
Starting the second week of August, the paid parking hours of operation in First Hill will change to 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. The 2015 Annual Paid Parking Study found that street parking occupancy at 7 p.m. was at 99%. This is above the target occupancy range set in the Seattle Municipal Code to keep one to two spaces open and available per block.
SDOT is installing informational signs and orange flags at the pay stations to alert everyone of parking changes on the block.
For more information please contact: DOT_Paystations@seattle.gov.