Last month, after weeks of vigorous debate throughout the Rainier Valley community, Othello neighborhood Association (ONA) voted to tell Sound Transit to pay for their their own parking predicament and provide free permits for residents in the Restricted Parking Zones (RPZ) around each station area.
Today, Mayor Nickels agreed to do just that.
According to his press release:
The city will provide eligible residents and businesses near light rail stations with no-cost parking permits for the next two years.
With light rail service beginning in July, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has been working with communities to make sure on-street parking spaces are available for residents, and not taken up by transit riders using the Beacon Hill, Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach stations. With support from many neighbors in the Rainier Valley, SDOT will install Restricted Parking Zones (RPZs) and time-limit signs for parking near stations.
To ease the transition over the next two years, the city will provide two no-cost RPZ permits per household or business through spring 2011, along with one no-cost guest permit. Those requiring more than two permits can purchase them for $45 per vehicle ($10 for low-income residents) for a two-year permit. Households and businesses renewing RPZ permits in 2011 will pay the permit price in effect at that time.
Through a pilot program, SDOT will also issue RPZ permits to employees at businesses in the new zones. The City Council will review the pilot program in April 2009.
“A congratulations to all who wrote in, called and said ‘No!’ to residents picking up the tab for light rail permit parking,” said chairperson Jenna Egusa Walden in an email today to ONA members.
Related:
- Rainier Valley Neighbors to City: Pay for Your Own Parking Predicament (3/20/09)
- ONA Says It Planned for Neighborhood Parking, City Blew It & ST Should Pick Up RPZ Tab (1/29/09)
- Letter to the Community: SDOT’s Restricted Parking Proposal = $45 for Your Permit (1/6/09)
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Congrats, Jenna. Though I’m not against the permit fees, I’m glad that your vocal pushback worked, saving me $60. It’s probably good politics for the Mayor in an election year (not to mention a worldwide recession). After our economy bounces back, so will the permit fee, very likely.
Your right, trellis. It was not Jenna. It was the election year…soooo…what else can we get done?
But yes, this is just a temporary stay. By then, new fresh blood can take on the fight!!! I’ll be an old veteran by then (at least in community years)…
Fight for much better bus access to the Rainier Valley stops north of Rainier Beach.
Somehow I can’t picture you old.
Yes, many thanks to the Othello Neighborhood Association for their work on this.
Yes, many thanks to the Othello Neighborhood Association for their work on this.
First thing that popped into my head was Election year politics.
Thanks, Jenna. If you hadn’t stood up for the community the Mayor would have done nothing about the parking fee. You turned a spotlight on this issue and the city was forced to address it.
Yes, it’s an election year. Yes, the Mayor is pandering for votes. Still, the fee wouldn’t have been waived without you and ONA.
Thanks for volunteering your time on behalf of others.
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