Changes to On-Street Parking in Town Center

The City’s ROW crews have been hard at work installing new signage to update the time limits for the on-street parking in Town Center. All on-street parking in Town Center is transitioning to 2-hour parking. The 2-hour time limit will be in effect from 8:00AM to 10:00PM Monday through Saturday. Additionally, the new regulations require that a vehicle move to another block to be considered reparked. In other words, when a user has reached the end of the two-hour time limit, they are unable to repark on either side of the same block and must move to a new block to be legally parked.

Where should I park if I need to be in Town Center for longer than 2 hours?

There are a handful of options for longer term parking in Town Center, including:

Town Center Parking Area located at the end of East Sunset Highway offers parking for up to 14 hours for a paid fee. The first two hours at this lot are free, then $2.50 per hour, up to a daily maximum rate of $12.50.
Mercer Island Park & Ride, located just north of Town Center, provides all day parking free of charge.
There are various private garages that offer long-term parking for a paid fee. More information can be found here.

What public transit options are there in and around Town Center?

Mercer Island is served by King County Metro. There are two bus routes that pass through Town Center.

Why is the City changing the time limits for street parking?

The Town Center Parking Plan was adopted by the City Council in November 2023. This Plan included a recommendation to convert all on-street parking in Town Center to 2-hour limits. A 2-hour limit for on-street parking is suitable to serve most customer and visitor needs in a business district, allowing enough time to complete errands, dining, and visits, while being short enough to promote turnover of spaces. This change also brings more consistency and ease of use to on-street parking regulations in Town Center.

Additionally, the Sound Transit Light Rail Station (Station) is anticipated to open in early 2026, likely increasing the demand for on-street parking in the Town Center. The City is updating its parking regulations in preparation for the Station opening, with the intention of ensuring parking is available for both commuters and patrons of Town Center businesses.

How will the new time limits be enforced?

The Mercer Island Police Department will enforce the new time limits. Violations of the time limits are subject to a $54.00 fine.