Washingtoner - City of Tacoma Aligns Parking Rates and Facilities for Downtown Parking Network Effective October 13

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~ Tacoma's downtown core will see an increase in the cost of on-street parking beginning October 13, 2026. The City has announced that the current rate of $1 per hour will rise to $1.50 per hour as part of the final stage of a comprehensive parking network update that began in 2025.

This update, which is based on data-driven research, aims to create a balanced and predictable parking system in the downtown area. It will pair short visits with street parking spots and longer visits with City-owned garages. The decision to implement this update was made after a major finding from a downtown parking study conducted in 2024 revealed that up to 31 percent of on-street stalls were occupied by the same vehicle for five hours or longer. The study also showed that there were thousands of open stalls in City-owned garages and lots during peak time periods.

To address this issue, on-street spots will now be designated for shorter visits while garages will cater to longer stays. This change is also meant to support parking balance at the curb, with time limits remaining in effect.

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Joseph Loran, co-chair of the Parking Technical Advisory Group, expressed his support for these changes as a downtown business owner. He stated, "As a downtown business owner, I see how important it is for people to get where they need to go as efficiently and conveniently as possible." Loran also mentioned that the Parking Technical Advisory Group worked closely with City staff to analyze parking data and discuss what was and wasn't working well. They ultimately concluded that there was a need for better balance between short-term visitors and all-day parkers.

Prior to implementing changes to on-street parking, the City had already made adjustments to its facility cost structure in order to accommodate all-day commuters and workers. These changes included reducing the daily maximum price from $16 to $12 at participating City-owned facilities, offering a 20 percent discount on the daily maximum through the Downtown Parking Savings Pass, and launching a Reduced-Rate Monthly Parking pilot program. Additionally, on-street parking has switched to a pay-by-plate system with expanded mobile payment options and removed the requirement to display paper tickets in car windows.

More information about these updates can be found on the City's website. Residents and visitors can also find details about facility locations, hourly and daily rates, monthly parking options, discounts, and reduced-rate programs at tacoma.gov/downtownparkingoptions. With these changes, the City hopes to create a more efficient and balanced parking system for all users in Tacoma's downtown core.

Filed Under: Government, City

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