Parking Advisory Task Force / Frequently Asked Questions / Off-Street Parking / Alternatives to Parking- Downtown: On the Go! / Parking for People with Disabilities / Maps / DowntownTacomaparking.com
- Notifications have recently been sent out to both the buffer and paid parking boundaries to announce the upcoming changes:
Beginning Sept. 20, pay stations will be turned on and will charge for parking downtown. Most paid parking spaces will have a 2-hour limit. For more information, go to the new parking website: downtowntacomaparking.com.
- Next monthly public meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sept. 2 (Pantages Theater, 9th & Broadway)
- Check out what's new with Tacoma parking (May 2010)
After decades, paid on-street parking is returning to Tacoma’s downtown. In 2009, the Tacoma City Council authorized implementation of a paid on-street parking program in the downtown core. The Council’s action followed a year of meetings with downtown stakeholders. Preparation will begin over the summer, with paid parking set to begin in September 2010.
During an initial period, Tacoma will offer a reduced rate of only 75¢ per hour. This will be one of the lowest hourly rates in the Puget Sound area – and significantly below major northwest cities’ rates in Seattle ($2.50 per hour) and Portland ($1.60).
View Map in more detail (PDF)
In recent years, on-street parking in Tacoma’s downtown core has become congested for long periods of time. That’s a sign of success - Tacoma has an increasingly busy, vibrant downtown. But that’s also a problem for customers who can’t find a parking space. Studies show that many on-street spaces are taken by downtown employees who should be using available off-street parking or alternative travel options (transit, bike, walk, etc.). Paid on-street parking will facilitate a “Customers First” approach. Parking turnover will benefit short stay customers and visitors.
Boundaries in the downtown core for paid on-street parking are: S. 7th Street (both sides), Market Street (both sides), S. 21st Street and Dock Street (both sides). A total of about 1,500 parking spaces will be metered.
Electronic pay stations will be installed in Tacoma instead of oldstyle parking meters. Pay stations are more convenient for customers and offer several payment options. They accept coins, credit and debit cards. Over the past decade, the electronic meters have become the standard in cities across the U.S. and worldwide. Pay stations are more reliable, cost less to maintain and are less susceptible to vandalism and theft.
Alternatives to Parking- Downtown: On the Go!
For more information about parking in Tacoma, e-mail tacomaparking@cityoftacoma.org.
E-mail contact for this Web site: karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org 