Seattle Cracks Down On Light Rail Parking

Amy Radil
01/08/2010

The city of Seattle has shut down attempts by four South Seattle businesses to offer commuter parking around the new light–rail stations. City officials say they want to facilitate biking and walking to the stations, rather than driving.

TRANSCRIPT

Since the Link light rail opened in July, neighborhoods around the stations have had new zoning rules in effect. The rules restrict street parking, and prohibit park–and–ride lots within a quarter–mile of the light rail stations. Since then, four businesses have been cited for offering parking to commuters. One just got a verbal warning. They all removed their park–and–ride signs when contacted by the city. Bryan Stevens is the spokesman for the city's department of planning and development. He says the city wants to discourage people from driving to the light rail stations.

Stevens: "We're trying to cater to the pedestrian and not the vehicle, and we're trying to encourage folks to walk or bike or even take the bus to the light rail station."

One of the lots cited is near the Mount Baker light–rail station, on property owned by the University of Washington. The tenant is now offering short–term parking, which is allowed. The University's director of real estate, Jeannette Henderson, says the school came into compliance as soon as it learned of the zoning violation.

Amy Radil, KUOW News.

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