It might be a no brainer for most Ballardites, but parking in the downtown Ballard area can be a bit prickly.

That's why members of the Central Ballard Residents Association has voted to ask the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to conduct a parking study to consider potential Restricted Parking Zones (RPZ) in central Ballard, according to a press release sent out by CBRA President Mike Kahrs.

Here's what SDOT says about RPZs on their website:

"Curb space is part of the public street system, a public good available for all people to use. To restrict the use of curb space for some requires a compelling reason. The Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Program was created to help ease parking congestion in residential neighborhoods, while balancing the needs of all people to be able to use the public streets. RPZs help neighborhoods deal with the impacts through signed time limits from which vehicles displaying a valid RPZ permit are exempt."

In order to help educate the community about RPZs and their potential benefits, CBRA has invited Margo Polley and Ruth Harper from SDOT to both present information and to take questions from attendees at CBRA's March 14 meeting.

The meeting will be held Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at Swedish Hospital Ballard Campus, Conference Room A on the main floor of the hospital. It'll be to the right after entering the front entrance on 5330 Tallman Ave.

All are welcome.

Zachariah Bryan can be reached at zachb@robinsonnews.com

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