Columbia City Parking and Access Changes

Project Overview

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is exploring changes to make it easier for everyone to find parking, support local businesses, and keep deliveries and traffic moving smoothly in Columbia City. We’re considering adding more paid parking, new load zones, and parking spaces for people with disabilities so parking is easier for everyone. 

Columbia City is also easy to reach without driving. The Columbia City Link light rail station is just a few blocks away, and new bus lanes on Rainier Ave make bus trips on Route 7 faster and more reliable. 

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

Proposed Changes

This map shows the parking changes we’re exploring.  SDOT would decide exactly where to add load zones and parking spaces for people with disabilities during design. This map outlines proposed changes to parking regulations in Columbia City.  

SDOT is exploring adding 2-hour paid parking, load zones, and disabled parking spaces on: 

• S Edmunds St from 37th Ave S to Rainier Ave S (south side only)
• S Edmunds St from Rainier Ave S to 39th Ave S (north and south side)  
• S Hudson St from 37th Ave S to Rainier Ave S (north and south side)
• Rainier Ave S from Hudson St to 39th Ave S (east and west side)

On the north side of S Edmunds St from Rainier Ave S to 39th Ave S and the south side of S Hudson St from 37th Ave S to Rainier Ave S, parking would change from free 2-hour parking except by Zone 29 permit to 2-hour paid parking, Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM, for all users. Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) permit holders on these streets will remain eligible for RPZ permits and could still park on other nearby RPZ 29-signed streets.  Here’s a map that shows where residents are eligible for RPZ permits and where RPZ permit holders are allowed to park. 

SDOT is also exploring adding 4-hour paid parking, load zones, and disabled parking spaces on: 

• S Alaska St from Rainier Ave to 38th Ave S (north and south side) 

Why we're exploring parking changes

Columbia City has changed a lot since we first introduced paid parking here in 2017. Our parking data shows that finding a parking spot in Columbia City can be tough, especially during busy afternoons and evenings.   

Our goals are to: 

• Make parking more available near shops, parks, and other destinations
• Reduce circling and congestion from people searching for parking
• Support local businesses by improving parking turnover and customer access
• Improve access by adding loading zones and disabled parking spaces
• Better manage parking demand in this busy neighborhood 

What's Changing? 

SDOT is exploring:

• Adding  2-hour paid parking on 4 blocks near shops and restaurants 
  This would help open up more parking spaces by encouraging turnover, so drivers spend less time circling. It makes it easier for people to find parking when visiting nearby stores and restaurants. 
   
• Adding 4-hour paid parking near the Rainier Playfield 
  To make it easier for park visitors and others needing longer parking, we would add 4-hour paid parking on both sides of S Alaska St from Rainier Ave S to 38th Ave S near the Rainier Playfield. This would improve parking for people visiting the park and people who want to park for longer periods. 
   
• Changing 2 blocks from RPZ to paid parking 
  We would also change two blocks from RPZ 29 parking to paid parking. This would make it easier for visitors to find parking on blocks near Rainier that also have businesses. People who live on these blocks could still get RPZ permits and be able to park on nearby RPZ 29 signed streets. 
   
• Improving deliveries by adding more load zones 
  Load zones gives delivery drivers and customers a place to stop briefly, so deliveries are easier and traffic moves more smoothly. 
   
• Adding accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities 
  We would add disabled parking spaces to make it easier for people with disabilities to park close to where they’re going. This helps everyone can get to shops, services, and community spaces easily. 

Next Steps

1. Hear from you 
   We’re currently asking for feedback from residents and businesses to learn more about their on-street parking and loading needs.
2. Update the proposed plan 
   Based on your input, we will refine our draft plan for how the new paid parking, load zones, and disabled spaces could work here.
3. Install the changes 
   Once the design is final, we would install the changes in late 2025.