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Redmond staff propose curb‑space strategy to support walkable urban centers, shared parking
Summary
A draft Transportation Master Plan curb‑space chapter recommends prioritizing curb uses by land‑use context, shared‑parking programs, metered parking and wayfinding; staff said more parking data will be added and an implementation plan will follow.
Redmond staff presented a draft curb‑space management chapter of the Transportation Master Plan at a Jan. 28 study session, outlining 12 strategies to balance parking, loading and access as the city’s urban centers grow.
Director Carol Helen and Transportation Planning Manager Michael Hintz told the council the chapter treats curb space as a multi‑use asset and recommends priorities based on land‑use context, shared‑parking programs, and tools such as metering, time restrictions and wayfinding to reduce cruising for spaces. Hintz said updated parking data will be added to the draft and that an urban‑center parking management implementation plan is being developed.
Why it matters: Redmond’s curb‑space choices influence economic activity and access to downtown businesses, transit and community destinations. Council members raised tradeoffs between “park once and walk” behavior and on‑street turnover and asked how a phased implementation would communicate and manage behavior change for residents and visitors.
Key elements in the draft chapter include a curb‑use priority matrix by land use, strategies to promote shared parking (private and public), and tools to support urban‑center goals for transportation demand management, economic development and access. Staff said shared parking is a focus of the city’s regional mobility grant application to WSDOT.
Council members asked implementation questions. Michael Hintz and Director Helen said the parking implementation plan will define details — for example, how metering or time restrictions are phased, residential permit options, and how to use technology (apps and wayfinding) so users can find parking without excessive cruising. Council members asked about EV charging policy and whether chargers should be public, private or a mix; staff said an EV strategy is under development and more specifics will come in later work.
Next steps: staff will add updated parking data to the draft curb‑space chapter and return with a fuller Transportation Master Plan draft; the urban‑center parking implementation plan will be prepared with public and business outreach and is scheduled for council review in March.
