Starting on Sept. 1, the majority of on-street parking in downtown Redmond will be limited to a maximum of two hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays and with some exceptions such as spots which have signs stating that they are one-hour or 15-minute load/unload spots.

The affected portion of downtown Redmond will be bounded roughly by Northeast 90th Street, Cleveland Street, 164th Avenue Northeast and the Sammamish River.

The city is contracting with Diamond Parking to provide parking enforcement and parking permit sales. During the month of September, “soft” enforcement will begin by issuing warning notices to those who disregard the parking time limit, according to Erika Vandenbrande, transportation demand manager for the City of Redmond.

Beginning in October, tickets requiring the payment of fines will be issued. The fine would be $20.

Citizens will be informed about these changes through “a multi-tiered communication strategy,” said Vandenbrande.

“First, city staff has been visiting both businesses and residential developments in the affected area to let them know that changes are coming with on-street parking, beginning in September. In the first wave of visits, we have been letting people know about available alternatives to driving alone — taking the bus, bicycling, carpooling and vanpooling,” she explained.

“In the second wave, starting in August, we will be reminding people that change is coming … (and) providing information on how to obtain a limited number of paid parking permits, allowing all-day parking, for purchase on a monthly basis.”

The city will also work closely with local media and business partners such as the Redmond Reporter, Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce and Greater Redmond Transportation Management Association to get the word out. And information will be posted on the city’s Web site (redmond.gov), RCTV (Redmond City Television), the city’s online news magazine (efocusonredmond.com) and on the R-TRIP (Redmond Trip Resource & Incentive Program) Web site, www. GOrtrip.com.

Informative signage is already up in the affected portion of downtown Redmond and additional signage will be installed in August.

What options will be available for visitors or employees who need to park downtown more than two hours?

The city recently opened a new parking garage across from the Redmond Transit Center, but many of those spaces will be occupied by those who ride buses from downtown Redmond into Seattle or elsewhere.

Vandenbrande noted, “Those wishing to park more than two hours would park on-site at the business or residence they are visiting. For those wanting a more frequent extended parking option, a limited number of paid parking permits will be available for purchase,” at a cost of $50 per month.

Some readers may wonder why the city is going to enforce the downtown parking limits.

Vandenbrande responded, “Many businesses and residents have increasingly asked the city to manage the parking in downtown Redmond. Eighty five percent or more of the on-street parking spaces are consistently full and consumers are finding it challenging to do business in the area. Quite simply, demand for on-street parking exceeds supply. There are 300 on-street parking spaces in the affected area, but far more than 300 residents, employees and customers seeking to use those spaces. The program is designed to support access to downtown businesses and parking.

The city commissioned a parking consultant, Rick Williams, to prepare a Downtown Parking Study that was presented to (City) Council in March 2008. A Parking Stakeholder Advisory Committee was comprised of downtown Redmond residents and businesses. The committee provided significant assistance in the identification, description and prioritization of issues to be addressed. They were further instrumental in the development of strategies and plans necessary for implementation of the parking management plan.”

Furthermore, said Vandenbrande, “There are options to driving that eliminate or decrease the need for parking. Downtown Redmond is adjacent to the Sammamish River Trail, home to a brand-new transit center and abundant with bicycle racks. R-TRIP offers Redmond residents and employees incentives to use alternatives to driving alone to work. The city program offers first-time transit riders a free, one-month bus pass to try transit, $300 in subsidies for new vanpoolers and many online resources such as a commute calendar, ride-matching tool and transit route planner. By logging commutes on the commute calendar, each participant earns a one-time $50 incentive after their first 50 alternative commutes.”

Downtown parking enforcement was approved at the July 21 meeting of the Redmond City Council. Councilmembers Nancy McCormick, Pat Vache, Kim Allen, Hank Myers and Hank Margeson voted in favor of the ordinance. Councilmembers Richard Cole and David Carson voted against it.

If you have questions about downtown parking, call (425) 556-2433 or e-mail parking@redmond.gov. For R-TRIP information, visit www.GOrtrip.com.