The downtown Puyallup parking plan that has drawn praise from business owners and residents but complaints from commuters since its adoption last fall could change again.
City staffers are recommending adjustments to address concerns raised by people including Sounder riders who catch the train at the West Main Street station.
The Puyallup City Council mulled the changes at Tuesday night’s study session, and several members seemed to favor enacting them.
Councilman Kent Boyle said he doesn’t want to see the parking management plan altered dramatically, but “there are some additions and things we can do.”
A couple of his colleagues voiced opposition, largely to a proposed change that would allow about 50 vehicles to park for longer periods on streets near the station.
Deputy Mayor John Knutsen said commuters are already treated fairly under the parking rules, and “I don’t support going backward into the mess that we had.”
The recommended changes will come back to the council for action, likely next month. They include:
• Modifying on-street parking time limits on some streets near the train station, creating spaces that could be used by commuters. The areas are under-used by downtown visitors, city staffers said.
They include the north side of Second Avenue Northwest between Fifth and Sixth streets, the north side of West Main between Third and Fifth streets, and the south side of West Stewart between Second and Third streets.
• Extending parking limits from two hours to three hours on West Main and West Meeker between Meridian and Second Street Southwest. Some businesses in these zones, such as hair salons, say their customers at times need more than two hours for an appointment.
• Expanding the city’s residential parking permit program to more streets. The program, in which residents with permits are exempt from time limits on streets where they live, was designed to keep commuters from spilling into neighborhoods.
• Extending the hours of some city-owned parking lots to better accommodate people who live in the downtown core and downtown employees who work late.
The city’s downtown parking landscape has changed significantly in the last few months.
The council last fall approved a plan aimed at freeing up spaces for downtown merchants and customers, and shifting commuters to the Red Lot near the Puyallup fairgrounds. This satellite parking lot has more than 200 spaces.
But commuters didn’t use it much. Instead, those who couldn’t find spaces at the train station used two leased overflow lots nearby or spilled onto city streets.
Meanwhile, downtown merchants said their employees were getting crowded out of parking.
The city owns one lot that Sound Transit previously leased for overflow. The council voted last year to end the lease; the lot now is open to the public and businesses.
City officials say the Red Lot has seen greater use since the changes took effect, and that residents and businesses are happy with the new rules.
However, commuters have reported problems. They’ve said the extra step of parking near the fairgrounds and catching a bus to the train station adds time to their already long commutes. They’ve also reported over-crowding on buses; Sound Transit has said it added shuttles.
Puyallup council members Tuesday said they’re eager to hear Sound Transit’s plan for a permanent parking solution for commuters using the train station.
Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058 sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/street
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.