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Parking Rate Changes this Winter

SDOT manages about 12,000 on-street paid parking spaces across 20 business districts, all with differing hourly rates, time limits, and hours of operation. So, it’s easy to get confused.

To help everyone understand how – and how much it will cost – to park, we’ve released a new parking web map, the results from our 2016 Paid Parking Study, and have updates on rate changes to specific areas.

First, our new mobile-optimized map shows where paid parking is, the hours of parking, and where pay stations are. You can also click the tabs on the top of the map to see rates for different times of day, and if there’s less expensive options nearby.

parking-map

New On Street Parking Map

Second, our 2016 Paid Parking Study details the data we use to decide parking rates and availability. Our parking policy is data-driven to:

  1. Manage business access, to help customers find spaces within easy walking distance of their destinations
  2. Meet performance goals, to conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and lessen traffic congestion from circling
  3. Maintain open spaces, to keep one to two spaces available throughout the day on each block

Finally, we’ve made rate changes across the city, particularly in South Lake Union where we found: very high space occupancy, low turnover, and challenges finding spaces.

South Lake Union Changesimg_20161208_142308383

  • New pay station equipment expected to be installed in February
  • Rates for parking south of Mercer Street now $2.50/hour (up from $2)
  • Rates for parking north of Mercer Street will increase to $1.50/hour in the morning and $2.00/hour in the afternoon in Feb. 2017
  • New paid parking along Dexter Avenue N, Eastlake Avenue E, and Denny Lower Roadway

Changes Throughout Seattle

  • Early 2017 we will lower rates to $0.50/hour at some times of day in Roosevelt, parts of Ballard and Chinatown/ID, Green Lake and at the Ballard Locks
  • Early 2017 we will increase rates to $4.50/hour at some times of day in parts of the Commercial Core, Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill, and First Hill

The changes to $4.50 and $0.50 are made possible under the 2017 City Budget. Several areas were at the maximum or minimum rates previously allowed by law.

For other questions or comments related to parking, contact Mary Catherine Snyder at 206-684-8110 or marycatherine.snyder@seattle.gov