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SDOT - Making the Parking System Work
 To find out information about this program's activities in a specific neighborhood, click on a neighborhood name below or on the neighborhood areas highlighted on the map to the right.
To learn about this program's activities addressing smaller, more localized concerns, click on the neighborhood name below:
About the Program
Through the "Making the Parking System Work" program the Seattle Department of Transportation responds to emerging parking, mobility, and access issues affecting a neighborhood-wide area. City staff collaborate with neighborhood business and community organizations to identify and implement low-cost, common-sense parking management and access strategies. These active partnerships seek to achieve the right mix of residential, visitor, customer and employee parking in a particular neighborhood. The partnerships also create and employ techniques to reduce demand for parking spaces by promoting travel by foot, bike, bus and carpool. These techniques are also known as transportation demand management or TDM.
At the outset of each neighborhood parking program effort, neighborhood representatives establish a workgroup comprised of residents, community/neighborhood organizations, area business groups and Chambers of Commerce, staff from various City departments, and other key stakeholders. The intent is to create a team of "neighborhood parking experts" that can develop solutions, implement recommendations, and educate and involve their neighbors (please see our Neighborhood & Business Tools section).
A key to the program's success is the creation of a balanced, representative workgroup that can consider different needs and points of view when coming up with solutions. Being able to see different sides of issues is important because often the definition of a parking "problem" depends on who you are. For example, residents may want a plentiful supply of long-term parking on the streets so that they may park their vehicles for several days at a time, local business owners may want short-term parking at their front door for customers, and area employees may be looking for long-term parking in which to park their vehicles while they are at work.
Neighborhood parking workgroups develop a list of specific actions the community and City can do. These actions include ways to make the best use of existing on-street and off-street parking, and ways to get people where they need to go using fewer vehicles where possible as a way of easing the demand for parking. The resulting action plan is then presented to the neighborhood at a Community Forum for review and to encourage participation in implementation. After refining the action plan the community and City staff partnership continues through the implementation phase.
In 2000, the City Council accepted Federal grant funds, and adopted an ordinance and a workplan for the Making the Parking System Work Program. The workplan prioritized neighborhoods for participation in the program based upon the terms of the grant, recommendations in neighborhood plans, the results of the Comprehensive Neighborhood Parking Study, and other transportation-related efforts that may be underway.
The workplan is updated on an annual basis. For more information about the program, please contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Recent or upcoming activities for participating neighborhoods are regularly updated on this web page. While many maps and meeting summaries are available for review, please note that there is no warranty of any kind associated with the maps, including accuracy, fitness or merchantability.
12th Avenue & Central Area
The 12th Avenue parking workgroup began work in 2002 and is currently completing work to a variety of On-Street changes in the 12th Avenue corridor between E. Madison Street and E. Jefferson Street, including installing angled parking on 13th Avenue just north of E. Jefferson to increase the area's parking supply. Seattle University, Seattle Academy, Swedish Medical Center and the 12th Avenue Stewardship Council have all been active participants along with nearby residents and business owners. The 12th Avenue parking workgroup currently meets on an "as-needed" basis.
12th Avenue Program Materials
12th Avenue Existing Parking Regulations
Opportunity Map 1: Back-in Angled Parking
Opportunity Map 2: Load Zones
12th Avenue Meeting Summaries
12th Avenue Summary September 30, 2002
12th Avenue Summary November 20, 2002
12th Avenue Summary February 4, 2003
12th Avenue Summary April 15, 2003
12th Avenue Meeting Summary March 3, 2004
12th Avenue Meeting Summary April 7, 2004
12th Avenue Meeting Summary June 9, 2004
Implementation Progress 2004
12th Avenue Parking Matrix (September 2004)
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Ballard
Downtown Ballard kicked off its "Making the Parking System Work" program on May 19, 2003. Business people and residents attended to share their ideas about improving access and managing parking in downtown Ballard. Since then, business people, residents and City staff have met frequently to walk the neighborhood, identify opportunities, and prioritize their ideas into an implementation workplan. Their recommendations were presented to the community at a forum in September 2003. The Downtown Ballard Parking Action Strategy is now complete with implementation underway, and the Downtown Ballard parking workgroup currently meets on an "as-needed" basis.
One of the results of the Workgroup's recommendations was the unhooding of the 60 meters on NW 56th Street to provide more short-term parking for customers. SDOT responded to specific requests from the Ballard Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Ballard Merchants Association to create more short-term parking by unhooding the meters. The unhooding of the meters was as successful strategy to convert 60 spaces that were frequently being used for long-term parking to spaces serving the demand for short-term parking.
Downtown Ballard Program Materials
Downtown Ballard Parking Action Strategy
To view just the four color maps in the Parking Action Strategy, click on the title below of the map you wish to view:
Map 1: Existing Conditions 2003
Map 2: Walking Tour 2003
Map 3: Proposed Short-Term Ballard Parking Regulations
Map 4: Proposed Mid-Term Ballard Parking Regulations
Downtown Ballard Meeting Summaries
Downtown Ballard Kick-off Summary May 19, 2003
Downtown Ballard Walking Tour Summary June 20, 2003
Downtown Ballard Summary July 18, 2003
Downtown Ballard Summary August 15, 2003
Downtown Ballard Community Forum September 25, 2003
Downtown Ballard Summary January 16, 2004
Downtown Ballard Meeting Summary February 20, 2004
Downtown Ballard Meeting Summary March 19, 2004
Downtown Ballard Meeting Summary April 16, 2004
Implementation Progress 2004
Ballard Parking Matrix (September 2004)
Action Items from January 16, 2004
Goal #2 Improve Usage of On-Street Parking-Load Zones on NW Market
Goal #5 Improve Ballard Ave NW Street Drainage
Downtown Ballard Parking Workgroup Accomplishments - September, 2004
Downtown Ballard Load Zone locater map - - September, 2004
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
Under the Car Smart Program, the City funded True Guides to create the Explore 44! Map and Guide that shows how easy it is to shop from Ballard to Wallingford to the U-District using Metro Route 44 and leave your car at home.
For more information, or if you would like to be added to the Downtown Ballard Parking Workgroup e-mail list, please contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Beacon Hill
The Making the Parking System Work program was engaged by the Beacon Hill community over the summer of 2003. SDOT staff conducted a walking tour with neighborhood representatives on July 29th, 2003. SDOT staff determined that many of the parking issues about which the community expressed concern were related to the Sound Transit test shaft and future station. The community is currently engaged in regular meetings with City and Sound Transit project managers regarding impacts from Sound Transit activities in the neighborhood, and SDOT staff are cooperating with the community to support this process.
SDOT staff created a matrix of parking issues and opportunities that are not related to Sound Transit impacts, and in October 2003 presented these to the community via the North Beacon Hill Community Council. Among the highest priority items to the community were the conflicts occuring around the use of a forklift next to a high ridership bus zone on the 2500 block of Beacon Avenue S, and a variety of concerns for pedestrian safety and access around Mercer Middle School at 1600 Columbian Way S (at 15th Avenue S). SDOT worked on these issues throughout 2004. Additionally, the Making the Parking System Work program funded a Beacon Hill neighborhood map showing biking, busing, and walking in addition to items of local interest. This map should be available in late Spring 2005.
For more information, please contact Randy Wiger at
randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Implementation Progress 2004
Beacon Hill Parking Matrix Summary (.PDF)
Beacon Hill Parking Matrix (March 2004) (.XLS)
Goal #2 Summary 2500 Beacon Ave S bus zone (Sept 2004) (.PDF)
Asa Mercer Traffic & Safety Matrix (Feb 2005) (.XLS)
Mercer Traffic & Safety Committee - by topic (Feb 2005) (.PDF)
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these PDF documents)
Belltown
Over the last three years, City staff have worked with the Belltown Business Improvement Area and the Community Council to address parking issues for business customers and residents in this dense downtown neighborhood. The community's priorities focused on the installation of parking meters along Western Avenue, Elliot Avenue and the east-west streets between Bell and Broad where there was currently uncontrolled or time-limit signed parking restrictions. By adding parking meters to these areas, parking turnover will be increased and there will be an increased supply of parking spaces for area customers and clients.
In 2002-2003 about 315 new parking meters were installed in Belltown, providing additional short-term customer parking as part of the Belltown Meter Installation Project. For information regarding parking in Belltown, contact Mary Catherine Snyder at (206) 684-8110 or marycatherine.snyder@seattle.gov.
Belltown Parking Resources
Belltown Existing Parking Regulations - May 2003 (PDF format)
New Meter Locations - October 2003 (PDF format)
Belltown Off-Street Parking Lots - October 2003 (PDF format)
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
Capitol Hill & Pike/Pine
The Capitol Hill & Pike/Pine Neighborhood Parking Workgroup held a Community Forum in December 2001 where the community responded to the parking workgroup's recommendations developed over the preceding year. Since the Forum, parking workgroup members have worked on implementing the on-street parking recommendations including successful on-street regulation changes around Cal Anderson Park (formerly Lincoln Reservoir), the creation of a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) in the Pike/Pine corridor, and exploration of a parking validation program with the Broadway Business Improvement Area (BIA). For more information on RPZs, please contact Julie Erickson at (206) 684-5092 or julie.erickson@seattle.gov.
Additionally, the MPSW has supported the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce in the creation of an Interactive Online Capitol Hill Parking and Access Map, and the addition of bus route and access information on the printed Capitol Hill Map produced by Town Hall Graphics (available at the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Service Center/Library at 425 Harvard Ave E or call 684-4574).
Below are the workgroup's recommendations, parking maps of the neighborhood, and a letter detailing the specifics of Load Zone changes.
Capitol Hill-Pike/Pine Program Materials
Parking Workgroup Recommendations
Background on the Parking Workgroup
Detailed On-Street Parking Recommendations
Map of the On-Street Parking Recommendations
Load Zone Letter
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Chinatown-International District
Since Summer 2002 City staff have been working with the Chinatown-International District Transportation Committee. The Committee is made up of business owners and social services staff representing resident interests.
Until March 2003, the primary focus of the committee was the design, administration and analysis of the Chinatown-International District Resident and Employee Parking Needs Assessment, funded through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the South Downtown Foundation and conducted by the International District Housing Alliance.
Chinatown-International District Program Materials
Chinatown-International District Resident and Employee Parking Needs Assessment
Chinatown-International District Meeting Summaries
C-ID Meeting Summary May 26, 2004
C-ID Meeting Summary July 28, 2004
C-ID Meeting Summary August 25, 2004
C-ID Meeting Summary September 22, 2004
2004 Implementation Progress
Chinatown-International District Meter Installation
C/ID Parking Matrix (August 2004)
Improving Safety and Mobility in the 400 Block of 12th Ave S
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Columbia City
The Columbia City Neighborhood Parking Workgroup met between April 2002 and June 2003 to develop parking management recommendations for the neighborhood. The Columbia City Parking Action Strategy was presented to the community at the March 2003 Columbia City Town Hall Meeting and at regular meetings of various neighborhood organizations. It is now complete and implementation is underway with the work being carried forward by the existing Columbia City community organizations.
As part of determining the neighborhood's parking priorities, the workgroup completed the Columbia City Neighborhood Parking Survey in March 2003. The final results are available in the Columbia City Neighborhood Parking Survey Results.
Columbia City Program Materials
Columbia City Parking Action Strategy - Executive Summary
Columbia City Parking Action Strategy
Columbia City Neighborhood Parking Survey Results
Columbia City Meeting Summaries
Columbia City Kick-off Summary April 2, 2002
Columbia City Walking Tour Summary June 25, 2002
Columbia City Summary July 30, 2002
Columbia City Summary September 17, 2002
Columbia City Summary December 3, 2002
Columbia City Summary February 4, 2003
Columbia City Summary April 1, 2003
Columbia City Summary June 17, 2003
Implementation Progress 2004
Columbia City Parking Matrix
Goal #1 Increase On-Street Parking-S Hudson
Goal #1 Increase On-Street Parking-37th Avenue S
Goal #1 Increase On-Street Parking-S Ferdinand
Columbia City Map
Another project in the neighborhood is the Columbia City Map - a guide to walking, biking and busing in Columbia City produced by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington with funding from the Making the Parking System Work program.
Columbia City Map-map north side
Columbia City Map-map south side
Columbia City Map-text side part 1
Columbia City Map-text side part 2
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
First Hill
Between February 2003 to May 2004 the First Hill parking workgroup met monthly to share their concerns and ideas about improving parking and access on First Hill. Their recommendations were presented to the community in a Forum in September 2003 and are now available in the First Hill Parking Action Strategy. Implementation is underway and the First Hill Parking Workgroup currently meets on an "as-needed" basis.
First Hill Program Materials
First Hill Parking Action Strategy
First Hill Meeting Summaries
First Hill Kick-Off Meeting Summary February 18, 2003
First Hill Walking Tour March 21, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary April 24, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary May 29, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary July 1, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary July 24, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary August 26, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary September 16, 2003
First Hill Community Forum October 2, 2003
First Hill Meeting Summary February 5, 2004
First Hill Meeting Summary March 2, 2004
First Hill Meeting Summary April 6, 2004
First Hill Meeting Summary May 4, 2004
Implementation Progress 2004
FTH Parking Matrix (Sept 2004)
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Green Lake
WHAT: Green Lake Community Parking Forum
DATE: Wednesday, April 13
TIME: 6:00 p.m. TO 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hearthstone Chapel, 6720 E Green Lake Way N
Download the flyer here
Download Green Lake parking data here (from the Comprehensive Neighborhood Parking Study)
Share your concerns, complaints, and ideas about parking with fellow residents, businesses, and city staff from the Department of Transportation and Parking Enforcement. Help improve how residents, employees, and visitors can get to, from, and around Green Lake. The “Making the Parking System Work” program works to create low cost, common sense parking improvements for the neighborhood.
In late 2004, the Making the Parking System Work program began engaging the Green Lake community about how parking and mobility around the neighborhood could be improved. Outreach has been done to the Green Lake Community Council and to the business district just east of the Green Lake Community Center.
The “Making the Parking System Work” program would like to invite and assist the Green Lake community in forming a neighborhood parking workgroup. A key to the program's success is the creation of a balanced, representative workgroup that can consider local stakeholder's perspectives when identifying solutions and turning ideas into actions.
A neighborhood parking workgroup develops a list of specific actions the community and City can take to improve parking. The resulting action steps are presented to the neighborhood for review and to encourage participation in making things happen before being implemented.
For more information, please contact:
Randy Wiger
(206) 684 8186
Randy.Wiger@Seattle.Gov
Pioneer Square
In 2003, the "Making the Parking System Work" program provided support for two projects created by the Pioneer Square Community Association (PSCA).
The first was an effort by the PSCA Parking Committee to create a parking validation program. Parking validation or discount programs typically provide assistance to customers of a business district by providing discounted parking in designated lots or structures. These programs help create more short-term parking for customers and are a great opportunity to market a business district. The Parking Round the Square Validation Program was launched to the public on May 6, 2003. To find out more about participating merchants and facilities, please visit http://www.pioneersquare.org/parking.html.
The second project was an update of the Pioneer Square Map. For the first time, the map now shows information about bus routes, bike parking facilities, car-sharing locations, and parking facilities participating in the Parking Round the Square Validation Program.
For more information on either project, contact the PSCA at (206) 667-0687 or Randy Wiger, at (206) 684-8186 or randy.wiger@seattle.gov.
Roosevelt
(updated March 2006)
Roosevelt Community Parking Forum
When: Tuesday, March 28
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Calvary Christion Assembly
6801 Roosevelt Way NE
A Community Parking Forum will be held Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Christian Assembly in combination with the regular RNA meeting. The draft “Roosevelt Parking Action Strategy” will be presented to the larger community for comments and approval. Once finalized, the Roosevelt Parking Action Strategy will used to guide activities to improve parking and how people get to, from, and around the Roosevelt neighborhood. The items in the Roosevelt Parking Action Strategy will also be considered for inclusion in Roosevelt’s Neighborhood Plan Update. The Strategy identifies specific actions which the community and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will work together to implement.
Draft Roosevelt Parking Action Strategy (PDF)
Public comment on the Roosevelt Parking Action Strategy will be accepted thorugh April 21, 2006.
Please send any comments, questions, or concerns about the Parking Action Strategy to Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Roosevelt Program Materials
Roosevelt Neighborhood Parking Issues - October 2004 (word document)
Roosevelt Neighborhood Parking Issues - October 2004 (Excel spreadsheet)
Roosevelt-area Parking Study Data Analysis
Visit the 35th Ave NE, NE 65th ST and NE 75th ST Improvement Project
Parking Workgroup Meeting Summaries:
Roosevelt Meeting Summary - April 18, 2005
Topics: Regulations, enforcement, lot-sharing, and busing, biking, & walking
Roosevelt Meeting Summary - May 2, 2005
Topics: Customer, business, and employee parking, and paid parking (pay stations & meters)
Roosevelt Meeting Summary - May 16, 2005
Topics: Roosevelt High School parking impacts and RPZ (Zone 19)
Roosevelt Meeting Summary - June 20, 2005
Topics: Public safety, car prowls, abandoned vehicles
Roosevelt Meeting Summary - March 6, 2006
Topics: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Mobility
For more information, contact Randy Wiger at (206) 684-8186 or randy.wiger@seattle.gov.
University District
From Fall 2001 through Spring 2002, a group of residents, business owners, the University District Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from the University of Washington worked with City staff to improve parking conditions in the University District. This neighborhood parking committee sought to improve on-street and off-street parking conditions on a street-by-street basis, and to manage the number of trips in the U-District through transportation demand management strategies. The parking committee used the Neighborhood Plan, data from the City's Comprehensive Neighborhood Parking Study, field visits, surveys and interviews to formulate a set of recommendations.
The result was the creation of the U-District Access Package, which combined a parking validation program (to help customers) with a small business commute package (to help employees and business owners get to and from work in fewer cars). Please contact the University District Chamber of Commerce at (206) 547-4417 or info@udistrictchamber.org for more information on this program.
University District Program Materials
U-District Final Recommendations
U-District Access Package
U-District Access Package Brochure
U-District Parking Guide
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
Under the Car Smart Program, the City funded True Guides to create the Explore 44! Map and Guide that shows how easy it is to shop from Ballard to Wallingford to the U-District using Metro Route 44 and leave your car at home.
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Uptown
In 2001 and 2002, The Uptown Parking Workgroup, the Strategic Planning Office (now closed), the Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Seattle Center and Department of Neighborhoods worked collaboratively with the Uptown Alliance and Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce to create over 50 new on-street, short-term parking spaces. This was accomplished by shortening the size of existing no-parking zones, moving a bus zone, and replacing unrestricted parking with short-term parking. Business owners continue to perform outreach to other businesses about the ease of installing or removing load zones to make the best use of existing curb space.
Uptown Program Materials
Uptown Recommendations
Load Zone Letter
Existing Conditions Map-2001
Community Discussion Map
Implemented Recommendations Map-2002
(get the Acrobat PDF Reader to view these documents)
Uptown Map
In 2003, with funding provided by the Making the Parking System Work program, the neighborhood worked with the Feet First pedestrian organization to create the "Walking Uptown" pedestrian-friendly map of the neighborhood. You can view the map below and paper copies are available in person at the Uptown Neighborhood Service Center at 157 Roy Street or by calling 206) 684-4812.
Walking Uptown Map-map side
Walking Uptown Map-text side
The map contains helpful information on car-sharing locations, bus and bike route information, and off-street parking opportunities. If you would like more information, please contact Feet First at (206) 652-2310 or info@feetfirst.info, or Randy Wiger (SDOT) at (206) 684-8186 or randy.wiger@seattle.gov.
Wallingford
In 2000-2001, City staff worked with representatives of Weaving Wallingford and the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce to address parking in the neighborhood, primarily along NE 45th Street. From that partnership, a list of Seven Small Steps was developed to improve parking management along 45th Avenue NE and throughout the business district. A "Walkable Wallingford" transportation and fun map was also created that includes transit route information, walking and cycling routes, connections to parks, schools, community centers, bike trails, bike racks and other amenities that promote the use of alternatives to driving. And a small business access package was developed to assist business owners and employees to get to and from work in fewer cars and thus free up valuable on-street parking for customers. Additional information is available on the Weaving Wallingford web site at www.wallingford.org/parking.htm.
Wallingford Program Materials
Seven Small Steps
Wallingford Parking Opportunities Map
Wallingford Small Business Access Package
Walkable Wallingford Map-map side
Walkable Wallingford Map-text side
Under the Car Smart Program, the City funded target="_blank"True Guides to create the Explore 44! Map and Guide that shows how easy it is to shop from Ballard to Wallingford to the U-District using Metro Route 44 and leave your car at home.
For more information contact Randy Wiger at randy.wiger@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8186.
Other Activities
In 2004, the Making the Parking System Work program responded to parking and access concerns affecting part of a neighborhood. Below are the summaries of these efforts. For more information please contact Randy Wiger (SDOT) at (206) 684-8186 or randy.wiger@seattle.gov.
Alki
In May 2004 the Making the Parking System Work program received a referral for assistance with several parking-related concerns by a resident of the Alki Ave SW area of West Seattle. Staff conducted a review of concerns that area residents have contacted SDOT about over the past several years. The following document provides a summary of these concerns.
Alki Summary-June 17, 2004
Alki RPZ - Final Design
Lake City
In July 2004 the Making the Parking System Work program responded to a request for assistance with a Neighborhood Plan Implementation item from the Lake City Stewardship Council. The Council wanted assistance with "Developing a parking analysis with specific proposals for parking facilities." The Department was able to provide parking analysis in the form of a summary and interpretation of data from the Comprehensive Neighborhood Parking Study (see the document below).
Lake City - Parking Study Data Analysis
Magnolia
In 2004 the Making the Parking System Work program was engaged to provide a Deparment response to the recommendations in the Magnolia Parking Study, including suggestions for engaging the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) in implementing recommendations where appropriate.
SDOT Response to Magnolia Parking Study, July 2004 (PDF format)
Queen Anne
In late 2004 the Making the Parking System Work program assisted in responding to requests for increased parking enforcement on the first block of Howe Street (between Queen Anne Avenue N and 1st Avenue N). Staff from the Parking Enforcement Unit and the Making the Parking System Work program investigated and met with stakeholders on this block. Below is a summary of the actions taken.
Parking Concerns on Howe Street - December 2004 (PDF format)
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