Wednesday, May 1, 2019

After maintaining the same parking rates for the last four years, the UW is proposing a rate increase for 2019-2020 to cover rising costs. Under this proposal, which was developed in cooperation with the University Transportation Committee and other campus stakeholders, base parking rates would go up 12%. Rates are not final until they are approved by the UW Board of Regents.

Please see the following proposed rate tables for full details:

A previous proposal to increase the Faculty/Staff U-PASS rate has been withdrawn. No U-PASS rate increase is being proposed at this time.

What parking rates cover

Parking spaces on the UW campus are limited as part of the Campus Master Plan approved by the City of Seattle, in which the City and University agreed to encourage the use of carpooling, mass transit and other commuting options in order to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips. Parking rates reflect this scarcity as well as other market factors and the need to pay for parking lot and garage maintenance. A portion of parking revenues also goes to support the U-PASS program and shuttle programs for the Seattle campus. 

Approval process

Rates were last raised in July of 2015.  Student U-PASS rates are set by the Universal Student U-PASS Advisory Board. Rates for faculty and staff are reviewed by the University Transportation Committee (UTC).

The UTC voted on April 22 to approve a base parking rate increase of 10% and a 8% increase for the Faculty/Staff U-PASS, following a presentation on April 10 that offered a range of possible rates. A public meeting on the rate proposals was held on Friday, April 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in HUB 145.

In response to feedback at the public hearing, from the UTC and from other campus constituents, the decision was made to withdraw the recommendation for an increase in the Faculty/Staff U-PASS user fee and change the proposed parking rate increase from 10% to 12%.

Rates are not final until approved by the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is currently set to discuss the proposal at their meeting on Thursday, May 9.

Transportation Services also welcomes your feedback about rates via email.

About Transportation Services

Transportation Services supports the 90,000 people who come to the Seattle campus each day. In addition to 12,200 parking spaces and 3.4 million square feet of lots and garages, transportation staff also administer the popular U-PASS transit program, five shuttle services and nearly 10,000 bike spaces. Staff also provide daily help to visitors entering campus, including at the more than 160 events held on campus a year.