This just in from Othello Neighborhood Association (ONA) Chair Jenna Walden:
ONA’s next meeting will be Tues., Jan. 27 at Holly Community Church at 7 pm. We will have SDOT presenting their proposed restricted parking program around the light rail station. Unfortunately, the date of our meeting is after the comment period has ended (Jan. 22nd) on restricted parking zones around light rail stations.The image below shows in blue-gray the blocks and streets proposed to receive restricted parking areas and time-limit signs. For instance, Willow Street from 40th Ave S east to 44th Ave S will become a restricted parking area. That means that any resident who lives in that area will be required (they say you are “eligible to purchase”) to 1) purchase a permit for $45 (good for two years) to park on the street there.
Additional details:
- Guest permits are $15 each and good for two years
- Low-income permits are $10 each and good for two years
- At this point, this is SDOT’s proposal and is not policy yet, however it is near finalization if no additional feedback changes anything.
RPZ (restricted parking zones) are a done deal. However, this is our final opportunity to determine who should be paying for these permits.
Should residents who live in proximity and within RPZ boundaries be forced to pick up the tab for getting permits?
Why are we being taxed for where we live? Already, we will be dealing with frustrating issues such as making sure guests and visitors to their house are not towed or ticketed.
There is precedence for the City of Seattle to implement RPZ programs in Capitol Hill, but have the operations that have triggered the need for RPZ to pick up the tab. In this case it was the hospital that forced RPZ on residents and they pay for the permits required for residents who live around the hospital. Sound Light Rail should do the same for Rainier Valley residents.
Please comment via email or phone 684-8186 by Jan. 22.
Related:
- The trains are coming: Where will riders park? (12/30/08)
- City seeks input on parking near light rail stations at several upcoming neighborhood meetings (10/22/08)
- SDOT moves to restrict residential parking in Mt. Baker, N. Beacon Hill, etc.; wants your input (8/3/08)
Send us your letters via email. Letters to be considered for publication must include your first and last name and contact info so we can verify your identity prior to publication.
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{ 8 comments }
Sorry to impose on you, wait no I’m not give me $45.00. Sounds like typical policy.
A thought experiment: say that SDOT prices the residential permits at $0.00 per automobile. Guest permits cost $0.00. Then begin light rail service. Imagine the consequences around the station area. “Permits! Permits! I have a permits to sell you…”
Jenna doesn’t question the need for permitting or the costs. She calls it a tax, though, and thinks Sound Transit should pay it, not the residents who own the cars.
I think that if you’re lucky enough to have a light rail station built near enough to walk to (and, if you’re a homeowner, to enjoy the increased property values), then $22.50/yr ($5/yr for low income) seems a reasonable fee to park your car on the street while curtailing out-of-area park-and-riders.
The fee would also put pressure on folks like my neighbor who parks his collection of $200 junky vans all up and down the street.
Trellis, you frame your argument in terms of residents near stations being “lucky enough”. You assume this is a privilege for which we need to pay for.
This is a function of who is impacting the neighborhood and therefore who should be paying the fees. Are residents impacting the neighborhood? Nope. We are not burdening the streets.
The light rail, and the users of light rail and visitors to the urban village are creating the impact to the neighborhood. Residents are being asked to pay a fee to ensure that we are not towed or ticketed. Call it a tax or an insurance policy, this should not be on the tab of residents.
Providence hospital picks up the tab for resident parking permits because it is their presence in the neighborhood which impacts it directly. This is the same case.
If you have a driveway/garage then no need to purchase a permit. Great access to transit is a wonderful benefit of the neighborhood. I don’t think a few $ a year for private use (parking) on a public resource is unreasonable. Actually, I think RPZ should be implemented in all of Seattle (permit to park in your neighborhood) which would cover some of costs of street sweeping and other maintenance, and reflect that private use is being granted for a public resource.
TheDude, Holy hell would break loose if north and west Seattleites are told they had to pay for street parking. It would be like telling them their neighborhood school is going to close.
jenwalden, I am with you.
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Not to worry. with imminant domain they will take your homes and tear them down to increase density to 50 units per acre for a mile around the stations. The apartments, housing condos will not have parking so they will force you onto the train. Many of these units will be occupied by our elderly. Often with canes and walkers. Can you imagin how difficult it will be for them to get on bikes to peddle to the station. Many are not able to walk the 1/2 to 3/4 miles to the station.
This is SE Seattle the mayor City and State can do anything they want.
Whitney-
The cost of defending the lawsuits from Magnolia would more than cover the potential revenue from the permits from SE Seattle. Or wait, no they’d just implement a pho tax to cover the litigation expense, my bad…
TheDude-
Well that assumes everyone has off street parking. A lot of people don’t, or have houses with those crazy tiny little 40′s/50′s garages that you can pull into, but could never open your door to get out of your car. Especially if you have kids or are elderly. So then you get everyone blocking sidewalks trying to straddle the space between their garage and the street. buzz kill for the walkability thang.
Nope, they’ll just have to wrap this $$ gap up in the cost of the fare. ooooooohhhhhhh, I know. that’s p.a.r.i.a.h talk. Oh well, just wait, that pho tax must be just around the corner…
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