Many park and ride lots across the region fill up well before 7 a.m. on a typical weekday, so it can be hard to find parking at the station. To provide access for riders who can’t make it to the station so early, Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Pierce Transit are offering reserved parking permits at some of the busiest park and ride lots in the region!
Free carpool permits and paid permits for people driving alone allow transit riders to park in reserved parking areas at transit hubs on weekdays throughout the morning rush hours. Check out all of your options below!
Carpool Permits
Groups of two or more commuters who regularly drive together to participating park & rides to catch transit are eligible to apply for carpool permits that provide access to reserved parking areas throughout the morning rush hours at selected park-and-ride lots operated by Sound Transit, King County Metro and Pierce Transit.
Sound Transit:
Sound Transit is offering free carpool parking permits to groups of two or more commuters who regularly drive together to catch the bus or train. Permits give you access to priority parking areas on weekdays when arriving with two or more transit riders in a vehicle during morning rush hours (4-8 a.m. at Sounder Stations, and 4-9 a.m at Link Stations and Transit Centers).
Carpool parking permits are currently available for: Angle Lake Link Station, Auburn Sounder Station, Edmonds Sounder Station, Federal Way Transit Center, Issaquah Transit Center, Kent Sounder Station, Mukilteo Sounder Station, Northgate Station Garage, Puyallup Sounder Station, Sumner Sounder Station, Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station and Tukwila Sounder Station.
King County Metro:
Metro Transit has set aside priority spaces for travelers who carpool to park & ride lots. Groups of two or more travelers who regularly drive together to participating park & rides to catch transit, join a vanpool, or another carpool are eligible to apply for carpool parking permits. Permits are free and allow permit holders to park in reserved parking areas on weekdays from 4:30-8:30 a.m.
Carpool parking permits are currently available for the following Metro park & ride lots: Eastgate Park & Ride, Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride, Redmond Park & Ride, Northgate Transit Center (East Lot), South Renton Park & Ride, South Kirkland Park & Ride, Green Lake Park & Ride, Tukwila Park & Ride, Aurora Village Park & Ride, Kingsgate Park & Ride, Kenmore Park & Ride, Bear Creek Park & Ride and Bothell Park & Ride.
Apply now for permits at Sound Transit or King County Metro Park & Rides:
https://www.rpnw.com/locations/transit-riders
Apply now for permits at Pierce Transit’s Tacoma Dome Station Garage:
https://www.piercetransit.org/permit-parking/
Solo Driver Parking Permits
Solo driver or “Single Occupant Vehicle” (SOV) parking permits are currently available for Sound Transit’s Northgate Station Garage, the Angle Lake Link Light Rail Station, and for Sounder Station parking at Auburn, Puyallup, Edmonds and Mukilteo.
ORCA Lift qualified transit riders
Sound Transit is offering a 66% discount on solo driver parking permits for transit riders who are qualified for ORCA Lift reduced transit fares (This includes Regional Reduced Fare Permit [RRFP] holders who meet ORCA Lift income qualifications). In addition to discounted parking, ORCA Lift card holders can get reduced fares per transit trip, or reduced-price monthly transit passes loaded onto their card.
For more information on eligibility for the ORCA Lift program, income requirements, and how to apply for the ORCA Lift, or RRFP card, visit:
RRFP: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/how-to-pay/fares/regional-reduced-fare-permit
ORCA Lift: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/how-to-pay/orca-card/orca-lift-reduced-fare-program
Apply for a permit here! Here’s what you need to do:
Visit this link to apply for your permit and follow the steps below!
- Select desired location from the list
- Click ‘Apply Now For Monthly Parking’
- Fill out the required information and click ‘Submit’
- Once an application has been approved, you will receive an email with your account number and further instructions. You must enter additional carpool members’ information to complete the carpool permit application process, or payment information to complete the solo driver permit application process and receive your permit.
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