City of Seattle, WA

01/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/23/2025 10:49

Deliveries in Belltown receive an upgrade with digital sensors and real-time curb data

Making a delivery at the curb by Pike Place Market in Seattle. Photo: SDOT

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Curb space is a precious resource in a city the size and scale of Seattle. With our many residents, businesses of all sizes, and the nonstop movement of people and goods, proactively managing our limited loading zones and curb space is essential. That's where we come in.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded SDOT a $2 million federal grant to develop new digital tools that offer real-time data-driven insights. The funding is helping us modernize how we ensure reliable access to the curb for deliveries. This project is a close partnership among the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Open Mobility Foundation, and the University of Washington's Urban Freight Lab. The findings will help inform how we manage our commercial vehicle load zone permit program moving forward.

In December, we were awarded a $14.8 million USDOT grant in partnership with the City of Minneapolis which provides a second stage of funding to continue this important work.

What's new?

SDOT continues its leadership in data-driven curb management. In fall 2024, we launched 25 smart commercial vehicle load zones (CVLZs). This month, we published a new web map tool showing the locations of load zones (commercial, passenger, standard) and the times they are available for loading use in the project area. The 25 smart CVLZs in the Belltown and Denny Triangle neighborhoods include vehicle detection sensors that collect data on how long vehicles are parked and the type of vehicles using the spaces, such as box trucks, cargo vans, and passenger vehicles.

We're conducting a survey of Seattle delivery operators to help improve our CVLZ program and learn more about how curbside deliveries are working today. This brief survey is open through January 31. If you or your company use commercial vehicles in Seattle, we want to hear from you!

Why is SDOT taking this technology-focused approach?

Based on the Urban Freight Lab's analysis of 30 blocks in the project area, nearly 80% of all parking in CVLZs was by non-authorized users. This means they either had no proof of payment or did not meet the requirements of a commercial vehicle. When people use CVLZs without a required permit, even for a few minutes, vital deliveries to nearby businesses can be negatively impacted.

More efficient management of our commercial vehicle load zones helps reduce congestion from vehicles circling the block looking for a legal loading space - or illegally parking in places where it's not allowed and causes potential congestion and safety issues (like double-parking or blocking bike, bus, or general travel lanes).

Installing the sensors and collecting data on parking activity is only the start. Using this sensor data, we are now studying data-driven approaches to improve commercial vehicle deliveries and our CVLZ permit program, which will ultimately benefit Seattle businesses, their customers, and goods delivery companies.

[Link]Map of project area in the north end of Downtown Seattle. Graphic: SDOT [Link]SDOT employees install a meter with a new digital sensor at a commercial vehicle load zone. Photo: SDOT

What we've heard from businesses and carriers

Another aspect of this work is talking with the delivery companies (carriers) and local businesses who regularly use the curb space for loading and deliveries. We've interviewed businesses and freight carriers over the past year and gained greater insights into their operational challenges and opportunities.

Key themes include:

  • Most businesses experience challenges with parking for delivery vehicles (such as finding an open and large enough space and missed or delayed deliveries).
  • Delivery drivers do not want to park illegally; commercial vehicle load zones are their preferred option​.
  • Drivers would like to see more enforcement as they are frustrated that these load zones are often filled with non-commercial vehicles or vehicles that do not have a permit.
  • Carriers need commercial vehicle load zones for efficient operations.
  • Effective management of commercial vehicle load zones is an important factor in the value of the curb space and related permitting programs.

What's next

We'll continue to evaluate how the sensor technology is performing. Our partners at the Urban Freight Lab are working with us on policy research and development to improve the commercial vehicle load zone permit program.

As noted above, we'll use the new Stage 2 funding from the USDOT to continue this work, while partnering with other cities including the City of Minneapolis. Our focus remains on improving access to the curb for deliveries moving forward, and expanding this work beyond the initial pilot area.

To learn more