Meter Installation Project

June 30, 2004

In 2003, SDOT installed almost 300 new parking meters in previously un-metered areas of Belltown and the Chinatown/International District. Additionally, hoods were removed from 60 meters in downtown Ballard.

Read more about the Belltown Meter Installation

Read more about the Chinatown-International District Meter Installation

It is an ongoing policy of SDOT to install parking meters or pay stations where analysis shows that they can benefit businesses by effectively increasing parking turnover and improving customer access. Characteristics that help determine where parking meters or pay stations will be of benefit to a business district include:

• Businesses or services needing good turnover in parking
• A relatively dense business base
• Heavily used, existing time-limited parking
• Limited or costly off-street parking
• Areas with curbs and sidewalks
• Little likelihood of customers choosing neighborhood parking over metered parking
• Community support

While it is desirable to have explicit property owner support for meter installation, SDOT is required to make good business decisions with the goal of improving parking turnover for business customers and generating needed revenue. Meetings will be held in the proposed areas so that SDOT can gather information as well as to understand concerns and overall community opinion about proposed meter installation in new areas.


For more information, contact Mary Catherine Snyder at (206) 684-8110 or marycatherine.snyder@seattle.gov.