City rolls out loading zones to help with curbside food pickup near restaurants

The City of Seattle will be helping facilitate food pickups and delivery services from restaurants.

Starting today, the Seattle Department of Transportation is converting on-street parking spaces near some restaurants to temporary loading zones to make it easer for curbside meal pickup.

“As we adjust to a new reality for the weeks to come, we can make it easier for individuals to quickly and safely visit places like restaurants for takeout,” Mayor Jenny Durkan said in the announcement. “Our small businesses, particularly restaurants, are bearing the brunt of our efforts to combat this pandemic. By facilitating easier takeout for restaurants, we can help support these businesses who make up the fabric of our City.”

The City will first focus on creating loading zones in areas with a high concentration of restaurants that don’t otherwise have enough loading options. SDOT will work with organizations such as the Office of Economic Development, the Seattle Restaurant Alliance and the Greater Seattle Business Association to determine where loading zones should be placed; restaurants can request a loading zone near their establishment by calling (206) 684-ROAD.

Through a combination of Passenger Load Zone signs on temporary easels and posts, most loading zones will be about 40 feet and allow approximately two cars to park for three minutes at a time, according to SDOT.