Parking changes coming in December 2020

Students who live in UW residence halls are eligible for a student resident permit, which grants access to a lot near the student’s residence hall based on availability.

• Parking lot access will be assigned each quarter based on lot availability at the time of purchase.

• Permits for the upcoming quarter will be available for purchase the week prior to finals week of the previous quarter.

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. It will no longer be necessary to display a paper permit.

What’s changing:

• You will no longer be able to automatically keep the same lot assignment from one quarter to the next. Instead, lots will be assigned each quarter, based on availability at the time of purchase.

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this on the online customer portal.

• Please continue to use your existing paper permit until you have purchased a license-plate linked permit. For most students, that will be for winter quarter 2021.

Students who drive to campus are eligible to purchase day parking in E18.

• Quarterly permits for E18 are available to students who plan to park on campus daily.
• Students who plan to only park on campus occasionally can purchase daily parking in E18 using pay machines or PayByPhone.
• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. It will no longer be necessary to display a paper permit. 

What’s changing:

• Quarterly permits will be linked to vehicle license plates instead of using paper paper permits. You will be able to manage this on the online customer portal.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit until you have purchased a license-plate linked permit. For most students, that will be for winter quarter 2021.

Students enrolled in night classes may purchase a night permit, valid from 4 p.m. - midnight. Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates, with no need to display a paper permit.

Students who plan to park every night may purchase a night permit for the duration of an academic quarter.

• Parking lot access will be assigned each quarter based on lot availability at the time of purchase.
• Permits for the upcoming quarter will be available for purchase the week prior to finals week of the previous quarter.

Students who plan to occasionally park on campus at night may purchase Daily Night permits.

• Using the online customer portal, students will select a lot based on availability at the time of purchase.
• Permits may be purchased for use immediately or for a specific night up to two weeks in advance.

What’s changing:

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this on the online customer portal.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit until you have purchased a license-plate linked permit. For most students, that will be for winter quarter 2021.

Pay-per-use parking (PPUP) is offered in gated garages, based on availability.

• To set up PPUP, please reach out to the Transportation Services office by email or phone to set up a time to obtain an Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) card. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.
• PPUP is not available for purchase online because an AVI card is required for access into the assigned lot.
• More details about PPUP are available here.

What’s changing:

• Husky debit is no longer an eligible payment method for PPUP. PPUP must be paid with payroll deductions.

Daily permits are a new pay-as-you-go option for non-gated facilities. They are available to every employee, but may be of particular interest to those who previously used Individual Commuter Tickets (ICTs). They are not available to students or visitors, with the exception of the Daily Night permit, which can be purchased by students.

• Daily permits can be purchased for same-day parking or for a specific day up to two weeks in advance. They can be purchased online or at the Transportation Services office.
• You select the lot you want to park in based on availability at the time of purchase, enter your license plate information and then make payment. Both day and night rates are available.
• You can purchase up to 10 daily permits at a time. Each permit is sold for a specific day and expires at midnight.
• Daily permits can be canceled and refunded at the Transportation Services office up to the day before they are active. Cancellations and refunds are not available online and must be done in person during Transportation Services operating hours. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.
• Permits are linked to your license plate, so you will not need to display a paper permit.
• You can buy Daily permits with a credit card via the online customer portal or at the Transportation Services office with a check or credit card.
• Daily permits are not eligible for payroll deduction.

Where to park
Daily permits are available in the following lots, subject to availability on any given day at the time of purchase. (If you currently have approval from your department to purchase ICTs in a controlled lot, such as N05 or a South Campus lot, you will be able to purchase Daily permits for those lots as well.) Not sure where a lot is? Check out the Lots & Garages map.

* This garage is a controlled access area that requires a separate parking card to enter outside of building access hours (typically 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., but varies by location). Please note that if you purchase a Daily permit for this location, you will not able to access the garage before or after building access hours. If you anticipate needing to park outside of building access hours, please reach out to the Sales office to discuss other options.

** N22 is for disabled parking and requires the display of a state or UW-issued placard or plate.

Individual Commuter Tickets (ICTs) are being retired with the new system. Existing ICTs will be valid for parking through Friday, December 31, 2021.

If you wish to return your most recent batch of ICTs and receive a refund, you will need to do so by Thursday, December 3, 2020. The last day to order new ICTs will also be Thursday, December 3, 2020. Office operations are impacted as a result of COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.

There are a variety of flexible parking options to choose from to replace ICTs. All parking is based on availability at the time of purchase, and waiting lists will continue to exist for certain locations and products. All rates are as of FY21.

• Switch to one of the Pay-per-use (PPUP) lots located around campus. PPUP gives you access to one specific lot. You pay only when you park and are billed every pay period for the days you use. PPUP access must initially be set up through the Transportation Services office and you must be payroll-deduction eligible.

  Cost: $8.75/day
  Locations: Portage Bay Garage, E12, N29, W08, W44, W45
  Not sure where a lot is? Check out the Lots & Garages map.
   

• Use the new Daily permits. These give you access to dozens of lots across campus, subject to availability on any given day. You select the day and lot you want to park in, and can purchase Daily permits online anytime from the same day you park, to up to two weeks in advance. Daily permits are not eligible for payroll deduction.

  Cost: $8.75/day, $2.92/night
  Locations: Central Plaza Garage (C01, C05, C06), Padelford Garage (N16, N18), Roosevelt Commons (W52), 4545 Garage (N27), C10, C12, C15, E02, E03, E06, E08, E16, E19, E21, N02, N09, N12, N13, N22 (disability parking only), N24, N25, N26, W10, W12, W29, W35, W40, W41.

  • Additional restrictions apply to some lots. Please see the “Where to park” section on the Daily permits page for more information. Not sure where a lot is? Check out the Lots & Garages map.

  • If you currently have approval from your department to purchase ICTs in a controlled lot, such as N05 or a South Campus lot, you will be able to purchase Daily permits for those lots as well.
     

• Self-serve parking lots are aimed at visitors but are also available to faculty and staff. Parking can be purchased by the hour or by the day in most locations. Self-serve parking is not eligible for payroll deduction.
  Cost: $4/hour or $18/day in most locations. E01 and E18 are $7.00/day. Self-serve lots near the Light rail station do not have a daily rate.
  Locations:  C02, C03, C04, E01, E03, E04, E07, E08 (self-serve for disability parking only), E17, E18, E19, E20, E21, E97, N01, N06, N20, N21, N22 (disability parking only), N25, S01, W10, W12, W27, W35, W41, W46

• If you need to park every day for a limited period of time, a short-term or longer single occupancy vehicle (SOV) permit may be a better choice. Annual SOVs are eligible for payroll deduction.

For concerns about accessibility, please see the Disability Services Office web page on disabled parking for employees.

Unsure which product would work best for you? We are here to help you through this change! In addition to this website, you can reach Transportation Services via email at ucommute@uw.edu. Our staff is available to assist you with your questions and can help you find a product that best suits your parking needs.

What to do with your existing ICTS

You may continue to use your existing ICTs to park at the UW through December 31, 2021. Please display them in your vehicle as you currently do now. 

We encourage you to keep a handful of ICTs if you anticipate needing to use them between now and December 31, 2021. If you wish to return your unused ICTs and receive a refund, you must do so by December 31, 2022. No refunds will be given after January 1, 2023.

There are a couple ways to return your unused ICTs for a refund:

• Make an appointment to visit the Transportation Services office to return the ICTs. Office operations are impacted as a result of COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.
• Send your unused ICTs via campus mail. Include your full name, employee ID number, email address and total number of ICTs you are returning on top of the stack of ICTs. It is important to provide an accurate total for the number of ICTs being returned so that we can confirm the accurate amount that will be refunded to you. The campus mail address to send your ICTs to is “Transportation Services, Box 355360”.

Please note, as per current policy, Transportation Services can only process refunds for the most recent batch of ICTs purchased.

Why ICTs are being retired

ICTs have been offered to faculty and staff for more than 20 years. Although popular, the product itself became very problematic to manage in our existing parking system. While the intent is that people use them to park no more than twice per week, that is only an average. Some people go months without using them, then park every day for two weeks, while other people do indeed only use them a few times per week. Because paper ICTs cannot be tracked, there is no way of knowing how many ICT holders are parking on any given day, or where. Some parkers were also frustrated with being unable to find space in their designated ICT lot. In addition, fraudulent use has been an issue with paper permits.

Given the popularity of the ICT product, we tried to find a way to incorporate the functionality of the ICT in the new online offerings, but found it was not possible. While we are unable to sell new ICTs once we move to the new software, we wanted to give everyone time to make the transition, so existing ICTs will be valid for parking through December 31, 2021. To learn more about how and why these decisions were made, please see our parking modernization page.

All single occupancy vehicle (SOV) permits will be linked to your license plate, with no need to display a paper permit. You may have up to five vehicles linked to your permit, but you may only park one vehicle on campus at a time.

• SOV permits in ungated parking lots or garages will be available for purchase on the online customer portal as well as in person at the Transportation Services office.
• Permits in gated facilities must be purchased through the Transportation Services office.
• If you are eligible to obtain an out-of-area permit, you will be able to do so through the online customer portal as well as at the gatehouse.
• SOV permits are assigned lots based on space availability at the time of purchase. Annual and financial quarter permits may keep the same lot assignment when renewed, but academic quarter permits will get a new lot assignment each quarter.

What’s changing:

• Faculty and staff with academic quarter permits will no longer be able to automatically keep the same lot assignment from one quarter to the next. Switching to an annual permit or a calendar quarter permit will allow you to ensure the same lot assignment.
• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Short-term SOV permits will be available for weekday parking only.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit for now. You will switch to the license plate-linked permit when you next renew your products or if you make any changes to your permit after mid-December.

Carpool members split the cost of parking on campus.

• Designated drivers of carpools receive a Carpool Driver permit, while passengers receive a Carpool Rider permit.
• The carpool permit can be linked to one or more license plates in the designated driver’s account, but you may only park one vehicle on campus at a time. No paper permit will be displayed.
• A Gratis U-PASS is available to all carpool members, unless they already have a Fully Subsidized Employee U-PASS or a Universal Student U-PASS.
• To set up a new Carpool or make changes to the members of an existing one, please make an appointment to come in person with all carpool members to the Transportation Services office. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.

Same-day “impromptu” carpooling permits are available to current UW students, staff and faculty by stopping at a gatehouse and displaying each rider’s Husky Card. You will receive a discount code to be used at a parking machine in one of the self-service lots.

What’s changing

• Carpool members will be able to see their permit in the customer portal.
• Carpools can now have four members (instead of being limited to three).
• A Gratis U-PASS will now be available for all carpool members, unless they already have a Fully Subsidized Employee U-PASS or a Universal Student U-PASS.
• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Impromptu carpools will no longer receive a paper pass, but will instead receive a discount code to use at a parking machine.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit for now. You will switch to the license plate-linked permit when you next renew your products, or if you make any changes to your permit after mid-December.

Faculty and staff who plan to park every night may purchase a Night permit valid from 4 p.m.– 8 a.m. the following morning. Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates, with no need to display a paper permit.

• Parking lots are assigned each quarter based on lot availability at the time of purchase.
• Permits in ungated parking lots or garages will be available for purchase via the online customer portal, as well as in person at the Transportation Services office. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.
• Permits in gated facilities must be purchased through the Transportation Services office.
• If you are eligible to obtain an out-of-area permit, you will be able to do so through the customer portal as well as at one of the gatehouses on campus.

Faculty and staff who park on campus infrequently may wish to purchase the night version of the new Daily permits.

• Lots are selected when purchasing the permit on the online customer portal, based on space availability at the time of purchase.
• Permits are available the same day or up to two weeks in advance.
• You can purchase up to 10 night versions of the Daily permits at a time.
• Rate for the night version of the Daily permits is the same as for the Night permits ($2.92 per night).
• Valid from 4 p.m. to midnight.
  • Parking enforcement begins at 6 a.m. every morning. If you require parking beyond 6 a.m., consider adding the Night Overtime permit.

Night Overtime permit

Night permit holders who work later than expected can purchase a Night Overtime permit through the customer portal. This permit is sold at the daily rate (currently $8.75 as of FY21) and will cover any Night permit set to expire in the morning through the following midnight. When purchasing a Night Overtime permit, it is valid for the current calendar day only, so it should not be purchased before midnight.

For example: If you have a Night permit for a Thursday night, but know that you will need parking until 10 a.m. on Friday morning, you would wait until after midnight and then purchase a Night Overtime permit. That permit would be valid all day Friday until midnight.

Night Overtime permits can be combined with Night permits and the night version of the Daily permits.

What’s changing:

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Please continue to use your existing quarterly paper permit for now. You will switch to the license plate-linked permit when you next renew your products or if you make any changes to your permit after mid-December.
• Night Overtime permits will be available online, rather than needing to call the Transportation Services office and then stopping at a campus gatehouse. Night Overtime permits will be sold at the daily rate, rather than by the hour.

All motorcycle permits will be linked to your license plate, with no need to display a paper permit. You may have up to five vehicles linked to your permit, but you may only park one vehicle on campus at a time.

Motorcycle permits will be available for purchase on the online customer portal as well as in person at the Transportation Services office.

What’s changing:

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit for now. You will switch to the license plate-linked permit when you next renew your products or if you make any changes to your permit after mid-December.

Faculty and staff who work swing shifts may purchase a Swing permit valid from 1:30 p.m. to midnight. Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates, with no need to display a paper permit.

• Parking lots are assigned each quarter based on lot availability at the time of purchase.
• Permits in ungated parking lots or garages will be available for purchase via the online customer portal, as well as in person at the Transportation Services office. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.
• Permits in gated facilities must be purchased through the Transportation Services office.
• If you are eligible to obtain an out-of-area permit, you will be able to do so through the customer portal as well as at one of the gatehouses on campus.

What’s changing:

• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Permit valid times will be shifted to 1:30 p.m. to midnight on weekdays. No change for Saturdays.
• Please continue to use your existing quarterly paper permit for now. You will switch to the license plate-linked permit when you next renew your products or if you make any changes to your permit after mid-December.

Employees who need to park in multiple locations on campus may purchase a Multi-lot permit.

• Multi-lot permits are based on availability and must be approved by the Transportation Services office and the appropriate department.
• The cost difference between a regular permit (typically an SOV) and a Multi-lot permit may be paid for by a University department.
• Permits are linked to your license plate, with no need to display a paper permit. You may have up to five vehicles linked to your permit, but you may only park one vehicle on campus at a time.
• Multi-lot permit holders may park in any of the following lots, subject to availability at time of parking:
  • Central Plaza Garage (C01-C06)
  • E02, E03, E08, E18, E19, E21
  • N01, N05, N18, N20, N21, N24, N25, N27, N28
  • S01, S05, S08
  • W10, W12, W35, W46

• Not sure where a lot is? Check out the Lots & Garages map.

You do not need to replace your U-designator permit until it is time for your annual or quarterly renewal or if you make changes to your permit after mid-December. You will then switch to the Multi-lot permit, which will be linked to your license plate. At that time, you will no longer need to display a paper permit.

What’s changing

• The new Multi-lot permit replaces the previous practice of purchasing both a main parking permit (typically an SOV) and a Universal (U) designator. It will have the same functionality as a U designator.
• Permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. You will be able to manage this online.
• Please continue to use your existing paper permit for now. You do not have to replace your U-designator until it is time for your annual or quarterly renewal.

Bike House permits will be available for purchase via the online customer portal, as well as in person at the Transportation Services office.

Bike Locker permits will be unavailable via the online customer portal and must be purchased in person at the Transportation Services office because bike lockers require a key. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.

Visiting the University for the first time? You will need to stop at one of our campus gatehouses to purchase a permit before parking. Our parking specialists are happy to help if you have any questions.

If you are familiar with the campus, you may want to use one of our self-serve parking options that allow you to pay at a machine or with the PayByPhone app.

Parking permits are required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to  9 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon.

• Be aware that event rates may affect parking cost and availability.
• Gatehouse staff and pay machines accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
• A state or UW-issued disability placard is required to use disability stalls in addition to a valid parking permit.
• Parking fees are non-refundable.
• Please see our visitor parking page for more information.

What’s changing:

• Visitors who are coming to campus as part of an arranged event may now be given permits linked to their license plates, instead of having to display a paper permit.
• Because most faculty, staff and students will park using license plate-linked permits, visitors may notice more cars parked on campus that do not have visibly displayed parking permits.

Complimentary parking is available to fully retired UW retirees and their spouses at the UW Seattle campus. Retirees may obtain a daily parking permit either online or at a gatehouse.

• On the day you want to visit campus, you can sign into the online customer portal, select the primary lot you want to park in, and add your license plate information. You may then drive onto campus and skip the gatehouse.
• If you’d rather not go online, you can still stop at any campus gatehouse and present your UW Retiree Husky Card. Gatehouse staff will be happy to assist you.
• Permits are only available for the current day.
• Retirees who have a state or UW-issued disability placard or plate are welcome to park in disability parking spaces. The disability placard or plate must be displayed. Please see the accessible parking page for more information.
• The following lots are available for retiree parking, based on space availability at the time of reservation:
  • Central Plaza Garage (C01-C06)
  • E02, E03, E08, E18, E19, E21
  • N01, N05, N18, N20, N21, N24, N25, N27, N28
  • S01, S05, S08
  • W10, W12, W35, W46

• Not sure where a lot is? Check out the Lots & Garages map.

• Please review the UW retirees parking page for more information about eligibility for this benefit.

What’s changing:

• UW retirees will now have the option to obtain a permit online as well as at a gatehouse.
• While access to multiple lots continues, retirees will be asked to indicate a primary lot they plan to park in via the online customer portal.
• You will not need to display a paper permit. Your license plate will act as your permit.
• In order to park in a disability parking space, you must display a state or UW-issued disability placard or plate.

A vendor or supplier with a term or service maintenance contract with the University may apply for a Service permit valid for up to a one-year period.

What’s changing:

• The Service (S) designator is being replaced. The new Service permit will have the same functionality but will be sold as one permit instead of the current combination of a permit and a S designator.
• You do not have to replace your S designator until your current one has expired.
• Service permits will no longer be available for purchase at the gatehouse and must be purchased in person at the Transportation Services office. Office operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and visits are by appointment only. Review our current operating hours and protocols for office visits.

Department administrators can arrange to pay for parking for guests. The ordering process varies depending on the product.

The following products will be ordered from a new arranged parking request form:

• Arranged parking
• Coupon codes

The following products will be ordered by emailing ucommute@uw.edu:

• Reserved stall

• Short-term parking

• Multi-lot permits (formerly U designator)

What’s changing:

• Department Commuter Tickets (DCTs) are being discontinued. Existing tickets will be valid through December 31, 2021.
• Departments who want to distribute paid parking to visitors before they arrive will now use the arranged parking product instead.
• Coupon codes are virtual codes that can be used in self-serve parking lots with a pay machine, based on availability.
• Validation coupons have been discontinued.

Please review our separate web page listing all department product changes.

Event organizers can arrange to pay for parking for their visitors and bill an invoice or a UW budget number.

• Arranged parking permits reserve space in a specific lot on a specific day. They must be paid for in advance and are not refundable.
• Arranged reserved stalls in a specific lot are available for an additional fee. Reserved signage and a cone to block the space will be set up either the night before or morning of the event.
• Please use the Arranged Parking form to schedule parking for your event.

What’s changing:

• Visitors with arranged parking will still need to stop at a gatehouse and provide the Unique Identifier (UID) provided by the department or organizer, but in many cases they will no longer receive a paper permit. Instead, the gatehouse will just enter their license plate information into the parking system.
• Arranged parking in Central Plaza Garage and S01 will continue to use paper permits issued at the gatehouse.
• Arranged reserved stall parkers will need to stop at a gatehouse to have their license plate information entered into the parking system.

Coupon codes are virtual codes that can be used in self-serve parking lots with pay machines. Organizers can give the same code to multiple visitors and are only billed after the code has been used.

• Visitors must enter the code and their license plate into a pay machine upon arrival.
• Space is not guaranteed in a specific lot; availability is first-come, first-served.
• The code can be used for two-hour or three-hour increments, or at a daily rate for more than three hours.

• Coupon codes are not available in Central Plaza Garage or the Triangle Garage. They are available in S01, but only on the top level.

What’s changing:

• Visitors will need to enter their license plate number into the pay machine as well as the coupon code.