Driving into downtown Seattle can be stressful, especially knowing which way to turn for a parking spot. Imagine signs pointing you toward different garages in downtown. Imagine a display with the number of spots available. What if you could check all this an more before leaving the house? SDOT is making it all a reality with e-Park, a parking guidance system improving the downtown Seattle experience by providing real-time, short-term parking information.
Mayor McGinn and Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncas flipped the switch to launch e-Park last Thursday. The e-Park system has dynamic, electronic signs at key downtown entrance points to guide you to garages with more than 4,500 spaces at six garages. SDOT plans to expand into Pioneer Square and the Central Waterfront in 2011 and 2012. E-Park is planning ahead to make it easier for visitors when construction related to the Central Waterfront reduces short-term spaces available in the years ahead. The system aims to keep traffic moving and avoid rubber-necking while looking for spots. It lets people know where there’s plenty of parking, so they are comfortable visiting, shopping and dining.
You can plan ahead too by checking out e-Park online. The Seattle Parking Map is linked up to e-Park so you can see where participating garages are, how many spaces are available, and the rates and hours at that location.
