The City of Bellevue is taking steps to manage parking spaces more effectively in busy areas like Downtown, Wilburton, and BelRed. With more people living and working in these neighborhoods, the demand for curbside parking has increased, and the city is looking for solutions to improve the current situation.
One of the key solutions is the Curb Management Plan (CMP), which includes a study on curb pricing. This entails charging for parking at the curb in a way that encourages faster turnover of spaces and makes it easier for drivers to find a spot.
The main goals of curb pricing in Bellevue are to keep curb parking at 80-85% occupancy to ensure spaces are used efficiently, create a fair and easy-to-understand pricing system, and improve parking turnover to reduce the time drivers spend searching for a space.
The city has begun collecting data to better understand parking patterns. Early findings show that in busy areas like Old Bellevue and the Spring District, curb occupancy often exceeds the 80% target, especially during peak times like lunch hours (11 AM–1 PM) and evenings. Also, many drivers are exceeding the 2-hour parking limit, with 20-50% of vehicles staying past the allowed time.
To make sure the public has a chance to give their feedback, Bellevue is developing a Community Engagement Plan. In early 2025, the city will start hosting public meetings, surveys, and focus groups to gather input from businesses, residents, and visitors about curb pricing and how it could impact them.
Important Dates:
- Early 2025: Community engagement begins.
- March 2025: City will share early findings and discuss implementation.
- Fall 2025: Transportation Commission will review and make recommendations on curb pricing.
- Late 2025: City Council will consider and vote on the curb pricing plan.
Public outreach will continue throughout 2025 as the plan moves forward.
