News Story

SU Students Continue to Struggle With Parking—On and Off-Campus

Written by Julius Johnson

Since the start of the 2021-2022 school year, Seattle University students have struggled to find parking on and off-campus. Students living on campus, and those who commute, must compete for limited spaces, and regardless of where one resides, they’re at risk of being cited if they aren’t properly permitted. 

For commuter students, the search for parking continues after hours. While some residences have private parking, many students find themselves depending on Seattle’s unreliable street parking options. 

Fourth-year nursing student, Lauren Chin, lives off-campus and describes Seattle street parking as “inconsistent, hard to plan, and stressful when [she’s] in a rush.” Apart from the city’s limited parking space, students parking off-campus must navigate Seattle’s strict—and often confusing—parking regulations. Unlike SU, Seattle’s parking options are rarely advertised to residents, and when they are, it typically consists of vague signage. 

Ultimately, students living off-campus are left to their own devices when it comes to finding and securing consistent parking within the city. While parking on campus isn’t guaranteed, students benefit from access to SU’s Parking and Transportation Services office, which aims to help students with their transportation needs. 

Whitney Wedge, SU’s Transportation Supervisor, suggests students plan ahead when it comes to parking as it “provides the customer time to contact Public Safety for any questions or assistance.” When asked how students might avoid unnecessary stress associated with parking, Wedge reiterated that “anytime a [student] has a question, it is best to ask Public Safety to receive an answer or get clarification. Public Safety can be contacted 24 hours a day and is happy to answer any questions and provide assistance.”