Last week, CHS reported that SDOT was preparing to roll out a small price drop for paid parking on a section of Capitol Hill — starting this summer, the rate on Broadway between John and Pine will drop 50 cents to $2.50/hour. There’s one more change coming for the neighborhood that might be pleasing to anybody currently making a habit of paying for the maximum two hours after work in Pike/Pine or along Broadway and then hoping for the meter maid to not cycle through before 8p. In coming weeks, drivers will soon be able to buy three hours of parking to cover the entire 5-8p paid parking roulette time slot.
“This decision was made during the budget process last year in response to community concerns that the two-hour limit was too short for evening activities like dining, a show or a movie,” a SDOT rep tells CHS about the change. “For Pike-Pine, we anticipate making these changes in late spring.”
SDOT will make the 5p change in all areas of the city where it introduced paid parking through 8p. You can learn more about the citywide paid parking changes for 2012 here.
In the meanwhile, there are no changes planned for First Hill and its $4.00/hour paid rates.
Seattle’s overhaul of its paid parking system began last year in an effort to move toward a more “performance based” method of establishing rates and creating availability. The working goal has been stated as making two parking spots available per block by adjusting rates and paid parking zones in the city’s business districts. This study commissioned by SDOT and the Office of Economic Development showed that while many people utilizing Capitol Hill’s business district areas had either walked, biked or taken transit, a lack of adequate parking was seen as a drawback for the neighborhood — though survey respondents were more likely to respond that better transit solutions were needed on the Hill than more parking.
SDOT says you can expect new signage in paid areas to explain the changes when the paystations are updated with the new rates and options.
Thanks SDOT, this is most welcome. Although to truly move to a market-based system there should be no time limits at all….