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With demand as high as ever, Pike/Pine parking rate likely rising to $2.50 in August

4583094410_4f570c0fe9_b-400x529If parking were a true market-based commodity, we might use the city’s networked system of parking pay stations to operate a real-time price exchange with rates calculated based on the number of spots available when you park.

For better or worse, the Seattle Department of Transportation uses a more blunt instrument: count the number of available spaces in a given area and adjust the rates annually.

Based on their 2013 parking count (PDF), SDOT is recommending a 50 cent raise to metered street parking in Pike/Pine, bringing the hourly rate to $2.50 an hour between 8 AM – 8 PM. Pending council approval, the new rates would begin in August.

With the new rates, SDOT is aiming to have 1-2 spots available on each Pike/Pine block throughout the metered parking times.

Despite previous rate increases and extending paid parking to 8 PM in 2011, parking in Pike/Pine is still a mob scene in the evening hours. According to SDOT’s 2013 Evening Paid Parking Study, average Pike/Pine parking capacity at 7 PM is at 104%, meaning all spaces are taken, plus some questionable parking decisions near intersections and fire hydrants.

That’s still a big improvement from 2010 when 7 PM capacity was pushing 120% as metered parking only went to 6 PM. Overall SDOT found that extended paid parking in 10 nightlife areas around the city lead to 20% more available spaces at 6 PM and 18% more available spaces at 7 PM.Screen-Shot-2014-04-27-at-6.24.51-PM-600x456

There are a slew of other parking rate changes and time extensions scheduled to take effect this year, however no changes are planned for the Broadway core. The other notable change on Capitol Hill is the planned roll-out of the city’s new parking pay stations.

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15 Comments
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ScooterRider
ScooterRider
9 years ago

I’m pretty much over paying the same for parking my scooter that takes up 1/6th the space of a normal sized SUV.

clew
clew
9 years ago
Reply to  ScooterRider

Seems fair — paying by the curb foot would, I think, be totally in the spirit of Shoup’s parking plans.

J
J
9 years ago
Reply to  ScooterRider

Motorcycles and scooters can park for free without a permit in RPZs. Lots of places where you can squeeze between two cars.

Beat the local news to it again

The local “Ambassadors” are hired by property owners to clean the parking meters…..
Can I get a refund on my $350.00 “Assessment” (not a tax according to the City of Seattle)

Michael Means
Michael Means
9 years ago

Is the demand increasing or is that construction is taking up a ridiculous amount of spots? Half of Pine parking is covered up by construction, the same with Pike (which has always had limited parking anyway).

Timmy73
Timmy73
9 years ago
Reply to  Michael Means

Probably both and also the bike lanes have removed parking spaces.

Joe
Joe
9 years ago
Reply to  Michael Means

And don’t forget the police vehicles from the East Precinct, which until their garage in the 12 Avenue Arts building is available are parking on the street in spots that would otherwise be open to paying civilians.

Bek
Bek
9 years ago

Are they still approving construction of new buildings without parking? In other words, new construction may be taking up parking spaces, but if new units are occupied with no associated parking spaces, we might see a similar decrease in availability, anyway.

Travis
Travis
9 years ago

People need to learn how to park on the hill. There are so many cars that take up the equivalent of two spaces (e.g. parking a few feet from a loading zone or no parking zone as opposed to parking as close to it as possible to leave room behind their car for another one) but they aren’t leaving enough room for even a small car (like a mini) to park. It’s so frustrating. Maybe they need to paint actual parking lines on the streets so people can figure out how to park properly.

NT
NT
9 years ago
Reply to  Travis

^
THIS!!! Exactly!

I get so frustrated to see all the wasted parking space just because people don’t pull up close enough. I will actually get out of my car and look and if there is too much room, I will get back in my car and move it to be considerate to others.

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

I never saw — which of the seven parking meter machines the city tried out did they ultimately pick? When are we going to see these new wonders on the sidewalks of the hill? (More to the point, how soon am I going to have to figure out the protocol for a new parking meter?)

Adam
Adam
9 years ago

The two hour limit should end after 8, but you should have to pay until 12am. If people from the burbs or wherever else are going to come to the Hill to party and make a mess, why should they get free parking to do it?

calhoun
9 years ago

The photo which accompanies this article is an example of why many people consider Pike-Pine a trashy part of Capitol Hill…..a parking station covered with stickers and spray paint, and a utility pole plastered with inches of old, outdated posters. And there are many more just like those, as well as overflowing dumpsters and trash cans, litter, etc. And now, with all the muggings/fights going on there, it is exactly what the “broken windows theory” is saying.

JB
JB
9 years ago

Thanks Bryan Cohen, for raising the issue of treating parking as a market-based commodity. It is well past time to have a real discussion on the issue. Hopefully the new SDOT director will help jump start things too.

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[…] went up 50 cents to $2.50 an hour. The City Council approved the rate bump in June following a recommendation from the Seattle Department of Transportation. SDOT also announced this month that rates around […]