Paid Permits For Eastside Park-And-Ride Spots OK'd

ISSAQUAH, WA — The King County Council on Wednesday approved a plan to turn up to half of the parking spaces at select park-and-ride garages across the Eastside and Seattle into paid spots.

Commuters will be able to buy monthly permits at varying prices at 10 park-and-ride garages. Permits will cost $90 per month at lots in Redmond, South Kirkland, Tukwila, Bear Creek, and Bothell, plus $60 in the Issaquah Highlands and Shoreline. The priciest spots will cost $120 per month at the Northgate garage in Seattle.

Commuters who pay for a permit will get a guaranteed parking spot weekdays if they arrive between 4:30 and 10 a.m. Carpool parking will remain free at all 10 garages. Low-income ORCA Lift riders will get spots for $20 per month.

Metro is expected to be out with more formal rules for the spots this fall. The permits could bring in more than $1 million in new revenue for Metro by the program's second year.

Sound Transit has made similar moves. Last summer, the Sound Transit board approved an expansion of reserved parking at garages at Sounder stations, the downtown-area Issaquah Transit Center, and near the Tukwila and Angle Lake light rail stations.