You know those vast parking lots at Northgate Mall, Walmart, Home Depot and other big box stores? Not only do they take up space and create an environment hostile to pedestrians, they contribute to stormwater runoff pollution and they stand nearly empty much of the time. And yet, they’re totally exempt from the Commercial Parking Tax that Seattle levies on lots where customers pay to park.
The Transit Riders Union has been working with progressive legislators in Olympia on legislation that would authorize a tax on Non-Residential Parking Facilities, requiring the parking lot owner to pay for these huge expanses of pavement. This progressive tax would close the loophole that exempts “free” parking spaces that actually come with high social costs. It would raise badly-needed revenue for public transit, as well as being good for the environment and improving our urban landscape.
Now is the time to contact your representatives in the House in support of HB 2186! Name the bill number and tell them you support a tax on non-residential parking facilities.
It’s easy to find your legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Or, just call the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000, leave a message with your name and street address, and it will be forwarded to your legislators.
Thanks for the heads-up. I wrote this:
I’m writing in support of HB 2186, which would allow Washington cities to establish per-space parking taxes on businesses that provide parking to their customers. Malls & big-box stores underuse their land, by providing vast amounts of free parking to customers that oftentimes is never fully occupied, and frequently locates the business out of town, in places that are hard or unsafe to get to without a car. This has many negative effects, including:
– Pollution from stormwater run-off
– Customers who arrive on foot/bicycle are placed at greater risk, having to cross a huge parking-lot to get to the store.
– Traffic jams, as these businesses are usually located where it is very inconvenient to arrive other than by car.
– Disadvantages smaller, in-town businesses which are paying higher rents to be walking, bicycling and transit-friendly.
– Employees are compelled to own a car they might not otherwise need.
Thank you for considering this bill.