Ballard Blocks Parking and Access Changes

Project Overview

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is exploring adding 2-hour paid parking, new load zones, and disabled parking spaces in the Ballard Blocks area to make it easier for everyone to find a spot.  The Ballard Blocks area is a busy area with lots of demand for on-street parking. We want to better manage parking so that on-street parking is easier for visitors, customers, deliveries, and people with disabilities.    

We’re looking at installing 2-hour paid parking, load zones, and disabled parking spaces on these streets:  

• NW Ballard Way from 15th Ave NW to 14th Ave NW (north and south sides)
• NW 46th St from 15th Ave NW t0 14th Ave NW (north and south sides)
• 15th Ave NW from NW Ballard Way to NW 46th St (east side only)
• 14th Ave NW from NW Ballard Way to NW 46th St (west side only) 

SDOT would install the paid parking in late 2025.  2-hour paid parking would be in effect Monday-Saturday from 8am to 8pm. Parking would be free on Sundays and City holidays.  

SDOT is proposing an initial paid parking rates for the Ballard Blocks as follows to align with other on-street paid parking rates nearby in Ballard:  

• Morning rates (8am-11am): $1/hour
• Afternoon rates (11am-5pm): $3/hour
• Evening rates: (5pm-8pm): $3.50/hour 

SDOT reviews data in paid areas and adjusts paid parking rates citywide three times per year. More information on SDOT’s paid parking rate system.  

Proposed Changes

This map shows the parking changes we’re exploring.  

SDOT is exploring adding 2-hour paid parking (8 AM–8 PM, Monday–Saturday), new load zones, and disabled parking spaces on these streets: 

• NW Ballard Way from 15th Ave NW to 14th Ave NW  (north and south sides)  
• NW 46th St from 15th Ave NW to 14th Ave NW  (north and south sides)  
• 15th Ave NW from NW Ballard Way to NW 46th St (east side only)  
• 14th Ave NW from NW Ballard Way to NW 46th St (west side only)  

Project Goals

The goals of this project are to:

• Make it easier for customers and visitors to find a parking space.
• Reduce circling for parking, which saves people time and cuts down on traffic.
• Improve safety by reducing traffic from cars searching for parking.
• Create space for delivery trucks and loading, so businesses can get the supplies they need.
• Encourage longer-term visitors and employees to use nearby parking garages and lots, which usually have space.
• Support local shops, restaurants, and services by encouraging on-street parking turnover so more people can visit throughout the day.

Why we're exploring parking changes

Ballard Blocks is a busy area. We want to better manage parking here so it’s easier for everyone- customers, delivery drivers, and people with disabilities - to find a parking spot.  In spring 2024, we studied on-street and off-street parking in the Ballard Blocks area. We counted how many people were using street parking and garage parking throughout the day.

Here’s what our parking study found:

• On-street parking was very full and almost completely full midday, with over 90% of on-street spaces filled.
• At the same time, the nearby garages and parking lots still had hundreds of open spaces.
• Some streets had time limited parking, but most blocks have unrestricted parking. On those blocks, cars often stayed for hours, making it harder for visitors and customers to find parking easily.

Next Steps

1. Talk with the community: We’re asking for feedback now to learn more about their on-street parking and loading needs.
2. Refine proposal: Based on this input, SDOT will refine our draft plan for how paid parking, new load zones, and disabled parking spaces could work here.
3. Install: SDOT would install the changes in late 2025.