Residential ADA Parking Program
The last decade, specifically the last few years, has brought about many changes that have impacted the parking landscape. In particular, locating available on-street parking in growing neighborhoods has become more competitive and challenging due to increases in:
- Vehicle ownership
- Residential density
- Telework activity
- Nearby commercial/retail activity
- Home delivery services
Parking pain points such as these often result in creating mobility obstacles for people with disabilities. Availability of accessible parking severely impacts the lives of people with disabilities- influencing their decisions of whether to drive, ride, or stay home, and even where to live.
Call to Action – Short Term Solution
When the pandemic hit, residential areas experienced higher than normal occupancies for on-street spaces. As a response the Temporary ADA program was rolled out as an interim solution to provide a service for those needing ADA parking accommodations near their home. The program served it’s purpose, but we aim to do better.
New Program — Currently Being Offered
The process for acquiring a permanent ADA sign in residential areas has been reshaped to improve access and advance services. A new Permanent Residential ADA Program is now offered as a resource to accommodate the changing transportation landscape in neighborhoods. The new program is expected to:
- Promote compliance through enforcement services.
- Provide clear regulatory ADA signs
- Offer convenient in-person, mail and web application services.
The intent of this new program is to reduce some of those challenges by ensuring more parking accessibility through the provision of on-street ADA parking stalls in residential areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Residential ADA stalls are not intended to meet full ADA compliance standards. Instead, they are provided to improve proximity and offer more convenient parking access near the residence.
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This program is not mandated at the state or federal level. It was created by the City of Tacoma to address a local community need and is offered as a courtesy. The program does not have dedicated funding.
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Because ADA stalls are located on public streets, availability is not guaranteed. These spaces are shared and may be used by any qualifying individual.
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Washington State law (RCW 46.61.570) prohibits reserving any portion of a public roadway for the exclusive use of an individual. As a result, ADA stalls cannot be assigned to a specific resident or property and are available to anyone displaying valid ADA credentials
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If a vehicle is parked in the ADA stall without displaying valid ADA credentials, please report the issue through 311 so it can be addressed by Parking Enforcement.