Parking isn't something I pay too much attention to usually, but there are some changes coming down the pike for those of you who feed the meter or have a residential parking permit.
It appears increasing street parking meter rates is one of the ways the City plans on making up for the budget shortfall. Hourly rates will increase $1 to $2 across most of Seattle's urban districts (
see the P-I for details). South Lake Union, who just had 2,000 free street-parking spots converted into pay spots earlier this year, will have its
hourly rate hiked from $1.25 to $2.00.
Despite some grouchy business owners, increased street-parking rates are generally looked upon favorably by the business community, retailers especially, as it makes their shops more accessible.
The other upcoming change affects residents more than shoppers, as SDOT is revising the Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) policy.
Currently, a household can obtain a relatively cheap ($35) permits for each of their vehicles, and in some zones there are more cars with permits than actual parking spaces which makes things difficult. Cascade is one of the most affected areas—already there are
two or more permitted vehicles per parking space, and it will only get more crowded with
all of the new development coming to the area.
SDOT has made their draft recommendations (see a summary pdf
here), each household in Cascade
would be limited to one permit.
I applaud SDOT's goals of reducing the impact of vehicle travel on neighborhoods and supporting a shift from driving to walking, biking and transit.
SDOT is currently reviewing public comments before making their final recommendations, which they expect to have ready by the end of December 2008 with legislation to follow.
