Bellevue considers charging for street parking amid growing demand

BELLEVUE, Wash. - Visiting downtown Bellevue could soon come with an added cost, as city officials consider implementing paid street parking for the first time.

City leaders say parking demand in the downtown area has surged, leaving limited spots available and prompting discussions on a potential pricing system. The Bellevue Transportation Commission is currently evaluating the proposal, which would apply to approximately 350 spaces throughout the city’s core.

In 2022, the city launched its Curb Management Plan, aimed at better utilizing curb spaces for various needs, including delivery operations, bike lanes, employer shuttles, and more. According to Chris Long, Assistant Director of Mobility Operations, this project aims to better organize how curb spaces are used in the city.

"Over the course of the last five plus years, we've really seen an exponential increase in delivery operations at the curb, and then demand for other uses, such as employer shuttles, bike lanes, transit lanes, just a lot of different ways that the limited curb space in downtown Bellevue are needed," Long said.

A recent survey showed that over 25% of vehicles parked on street were staying longer than the two-hour limit, which has led to congestion and parking challenges. 

Local perspective:

For many visitors, finding parking in Old Bellevue is already a challenge.

"It’s just impossible to get a spot to park," said Gail Palmer, who was out for a birthday party celebration in downtown Bellevue.

Tejabir, another driver, shared similar frustrations. 

"It took me like five minutes to park today. I always wait to see people leaving," Tejabir said. When asked about the possibility of paid parking, he was disappointed. "It’s already a hassle. If you add charging, I don’t know if we would come very often."

Big picture view:

As of now, parking occupancy in downtown Bellevue has surpassed 80% during peak hours, with some areas reaching or exceeding full capacity, especially in the Spring District and Old Bellevue. The city’s lack of enforcement has contributed to illegal parking behavior, where drivers park in areas not designated for public use.

"In the evening hours in a lot of the city, we're at 100%, and in some cases, over 100%, where people are parking illegally in order to get to places in the Spring District and Old Bellevue," Long said.

For businesses, the proposed changes could have both positive and negative impacts. Patrick Bannon, President and CEO of the Downtown Bellevue Association, emphasized the need for the city to collaborate with business owners as they design a solution that meets their needs. 

"There’s a lot of demand for on-street space, and that’s a good thing because people want to come downtown," Bannon said. "But it absolutely impacts businesses. I think what customers want is greater access, greater predictability and flexibility and how to get to where they want to be."

How Much Will It Cost?:

The exact pricing structure has yet to be determined, but officials say the system will use demand-based pricing similar to Seattle, where rates fluctuate based on time of day and location. Currently, private parking garages in Bellevue charge anywhere from $4 to $8 per hour.

Bannon believes a paid parking system could improve turnover, making it easier for visitors to find spaces. A proposed two-hour parking limit could help achieve this, ensuring that spaces are freed up more frequently for customers. 

"Having a paid structure in place could provide more incentive for customers to limit the time they're there and allow more space for others to visit those businesses," Bannon said.

One concern that has emerged is whether the introduction of paid street parking could lead to increased use of private parking garages, such as Bellevue Square’s free parking lot. Long says street parking near Bellevue Square is limited, and the city’s available street spaces account for less than 1% of the total off-street parking capacity in downtown Bellevue. 

The Bellevue Collection telling FOX 13, "Offering free parking for our retail, dining, and entertainment customers at The Bellevue Collection has always been foundational to our core values. We do not support the decision to implement paid street parking in Bellevue, and we are committed to maintaining our current free parking policy for our retail guests."

Funds from parking meters will help with parking enforcement, and recovering costs spent on retrofiting the city with the right infrastructure to charge for parking.

What's next:

The Transportation Commission will make a recommendation to the Bellevue City Council, which will have the final say. If the recommendation is approved by the city council, Bellevue could see paid street parking as soon as late 2025 or early 2026, though this could be subject to change as logistics are worked out.

"The city needs to take the time to listen to residents, business owners, and customers to get it right," Bannon said. "It’s important that whatever happens is customer-friendly and adaptable." 

The city is seeking public input and will hold a virtual town hall at 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday hosting their ‘Curb Pricing Study Virtual Open House’.

Bellevue has also created a website for the ‘Curb Pricing Study’. You can also participate in a survey to help the project team better understand your parking experience.

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