Seattle avenue parking charges set to extend in June as enterprise districts rebound from virus

Seattle drivers may notice an increase in their parking fees starting next week.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced this week that it will increase parking fees in several neighborhoods across the city to improve customer access to local businesses. The increase starts on June 1st. The ministry will review street parking fees quarterly as business in the city has recovered from pandemic lows and rates have also increased in early February.

“As Seattle residents become fully vaccinated and on the move, we’ve seen a surge in demand for street parking in many neighborhoods,” SDOT wrote on Tuesday in a blog post. “Based on the latest analysis of parking data, we are adjusting street parking rates in some parts of the city to make it easier for visitors to shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses to find a parking space within walking distance of their destination.”

Starting next Tuesday, parking rates will increase by $ 0.50 or $ 1 per hour in much of the city including parts of 12th Avenue, Belltown, Chinatown International District, Columbia City, Downtown, Denny Triangle, First Hill, Fremont, Green Lake , Pioneer Square, Roosevelt, South Lake Union and the University District.

There is a notable drop in price: street parking fees in the Pike Pine Corridor are reduced to $ 0.50 per hour in the evening. Parking remains free on Sundays and public holidays, including upcoming Memorial Day on Monday.

The changes will come as the city begins to recover from the pandemic, and SDOT said it will continue to adjust prices “based on demand”.

“Setting effective and affordable parking rates will also improve business access by ensuring the sales of parked cars – a key to our continued economic recovery,” wrote SDOT.

Other private properties in the city have also started charging payment to improve customer access. In January, amid rising property taxes and changes in transportation methods, West Seattle Junction converted 228 parking spaces in four different parking lots to paid parking.

“For many, it is becoming easier to experience downtown West Seattle,” said Lora Radford, executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association. “The ability to find a parking space every time you visit the intersection will increase dramatically with the move to paid parking. Gone are the days of cars being parked in the parking lots for hours.”