NW Portland’s Zone M parking district expands

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 27, 2015

The first phase of the Northwest Portland Parking Plan took effect this week as city Bureau of Transportation crews begin installing Zone M signs to mark an expanded parking permit area.

The new signs are part of a plan by the city, northwest residents and businesses to ease the parking crunch in the busy neighborhood. The expanded permit area stretches from West Burnside Street to Northwest Vaughn Street and west from 16th to 25th avenues. Previously, Zone M’s north boundary stopped at Northwest Irving Street. An adjacent parking permit area next to Interstate 405, called Zone K, remains unchanged.

Blocks with a Zone M sign will allow visitors to park for up to four hours, and neighborhood residents who have purchased $60 annual permits to park without time restrictions.

City crews should have all the Zone M signs installed in about two weeks.

“The new signs mark an important milestone in a collaborative effort between the neighborhood and the city to alleviate parking congestion and frustration,” said Leah Treat, Portland Bureau of Transportation director. “Visitors and residents will now have an easier time finding parking and businesses will benefit from improved access by their customers.”

The $60 annual permits are available to people who live, work or own property within the Zone M boundaries. More than 2,000 permits for the expanded zone have been issued since they became available in February.

For more information, check the website, http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation.