Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curb Pricing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs next steps on paid curb pricing after study shows high occupancy and overstays
Summary
After a year-long curb-pricing study and outreach, council directed staff to proceed with administrative tasks to enable paid on-street parking in downtown, Wilburton and BelRed, aiming to improve turnover and enforcement. Staff projected upfront equipment costs of about $1.6M, operating costs of about $2.0M annually and modeled revenue of roughly $4.3M.
Bellevue staff presented a curb-pricing study on Nov. 25 that recommends demand-based paid on-street parking for the city’s urban core (downtown, Wilburton and BelRed) to improve curb access, increase turnover for street-level businesses, and reduce parking-seeking congestion.
Field data collected in 2024 showed most blocks in the study area exceed an 80% occupancy target by midafternoon and that more than 25% of vehicles overstay time limits by three hours or more, indicating enforcement is not keeping up with demand. Intercept surveys found that more than half of respondents had to circle to find parking and that 74% would be just as likely or more likely to visit if parking were easier to find even if they had to pay a small amount.
The recommended program uses demand-based pricing with a council-approved rate range and staff setting specific block rates to pursue an 80% occupancy target; payment options would include a limited number of pay stations, mobile apps and text-to-pay. Staff estimated initial equipment costs at about $1.6 million, annual operating costs around $2 million, and modeled gross revenue of roughly $4.3 million, leaving funds to reinvest in curb management and safety projects. Staff also proposed an advisory committee with business and merchant representatives, pilot concepts such as short free grace periods, and mitigation measures for employees and ADA users (transit incentives, partnerships with private garages, extended Bellhop service).
Council members supported directing staff to proceed with administrative work and code amendments but asked for additional detail on ADA accommodations, employee parking options, dynamic-pricing notice and signage, revenue mechanics and a plan for community outreach and monitoring. The council voted to direct staff to advance administrative tasks and return with ordinance language and implementation plans for future votes.
