Guide to Parking Downtown Seattle

The city of Seattle has more than 12,000 paid parking spaces primarily in the downtown area of Seattle and the business districts in the neighborhood. The Seattle department of transportation aims to optimize the space turnover through this facility, particularly when the time-limit signs by themselves do not produce the desired turnover. Presently this city operates a 3 tiered parking system taking into consideration the demand, transport conditions and land use in specific areas. For a detailed overview of the Seattle downtown parking rates, you can move over to http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Washington_State/Seattle-894670/Warnings_or_Dangers-Seattle-Parking-BR-1.html

Or http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/

Short term parking in Pioneer Square, Waterfront, Retail District, Financial District, Bell town, Denny Triangle, China Town/International district is set at $2.50 per hour.

In Uptown, South Lake Union, Broadway, Pike-Pine, First Hill, Ballard and the University District, the short term parking rate per hour is $2 and the long term parking costs $1.25 per hour.

In Providence, West Lake Ave North, Roosevelt, 12th Ave, Green Lake and Fremont short term parking is $1.50 while long term parking is $0.75 per hour.

Unexpired time can be reused at another pay station, but a 2 hour receipt can be reused only at another 2 hour metered pay station. Similar rule would apply for the higher receipts too. Cash as well as credit/debit cards are valid payment modes. You should not leave your vehicle parked without a valid receipt.

Monday through Saturday, the parking stations operate from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm while purchasing parking can be done as early as 4.0 am and will take effect from 8.0 am. Some areas have restricted parking hours. All Sundays and certain other days in each month qualify for free parking. You can get finer details from the web sites mentioned above.

While the details above relate to public parking, Seattle hotels provide their own parking and some of them are free too. And while in Seattle be extremely careful about J walking. When you see the 'Don't walk' signal at intersections stay put at the kerb or else you could be ticketed for as much as $100.0. Read more about this at http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=parking+downtown&find_loc=Seattle%2C+WA