Getting Around

Traveling to, from, and around Mercer Island? Find more information about transportation and parking options below. 

Biking & Walking

• Mercer Island Bicycle Routes Map
• Information about Park Trails

Bicycle Parking

If you roll in or around Town Center, there are several options to park your bike or e-bike.

BikeLink Bike Lockers

The Town Center Parking Area and the Sound Transit Light Rail Station have BikeLink on-demand bike lockers. The lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis 24 hours per day. Lockers may be rented for any period, from a few hours to a maximum of 10 days. Users pay 5 cents per hour, like a parking meter. If any purchased time is unused, it will be refunded. However, if you exceed your purchased time, you are charged 12 cents per hour automatically.

These secure, stainless-steel lockers are accessible using a BikeLink card or the BikeLink app. Purchase a BikeLink card  or download the BikeLink App on iOS and Android.

Sound Transit Bike Room & Bike Racks

At the Sound Transit Light Rail Station, there is a bike room that holds 32 bicycles. The bike room can be accessed using a BikeLink card or the with the BikeLink app.

The station also has 50 bike rack spaces that are free to use. The bike racks are outdoors and are first-come, first served. 

Be sure to lock your bicycle securely to bike racks installed within bike rooms, including at least one wheel and the frame. U-locks are more secure than cable locks.

Public Transportation

Mercer Island is served by two regional public transportation providers: King County Metro and Sound Transit. Click the links below to access schedules, maps, and other resources for planning your trip by bus or rail.

Parking in Town Center

A variety of parking options exist for commuters, shoppers, and other visitors in Town Center. Details about many options are provided below.

Please note: The information shared here does not guarantee parking availability, time limits, or enforcement rules. Please always check signage when parking your vehicle in Town Center. 

Town Center Parking Area - East Sunset Highway

33 parking stalls are available for all day parking just south of the Mercer Island Transit Center. Registration using ParkMobile is required to use the lot. Parking is free for the first two hours, and $2.50 per hour thereafter, up to a daily maximum of $12.50, with up to 14 hours of parking allowed. These regulations will be in effect from 8:00AM to 10:00PM seven days per week.

Mercer Island Park-and-Ride Lot - 8000 North Mercer Way 

This two-level parking garage is owned and operated by Sound Transit. 447 parking stalls are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis to transit riders.
Regulations

• Parking is intended for transit customers unless otherwise posted.
• Vehicles will be ticketed or towed if they are parked for more than 24 hours, are parked in no-parking areas, are parked in ADA spots, or are violating other posted parking regulations.

ON-STREET PARKING AND PARKING GARAGES

To help community members navigate different public parking options, the City created a parking map that shows locations and regulations for on-street parking and parking garage locations.

OFF-STREET PARKING

Many surface parking lots are also available at Town Center’s shopping and business centers. These lots are privately owned and operated and are not enforced by the City (except for violations for ADA parking). When parking to visit your favorite Town Center restaurant or boutique, make sure to check the signage posted on-site for parking time limits and other regulations. The City does not guarantee the availability of or specific regulations for any off-street parking in Town Center.

Other Parking Around Mercer Island

Looking for information about other parking programs around the Island? Keep reading for details about two options.

SATELLITE PARK-AND-RIDE - MERCER VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER

sland.Seventeen free parking spaces are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to commuters at Mercer Village, SE 68th Street and 84th Avenue SE (southend QFC), for commuters. These spaces are served by Metro Routes 204, 630, and 989 and are managed by Mercer Village, not the City. Check signage posted on-site before leaving your vehicle. 

NORTH MERCER RESTRICTED PARKING DISTRICT (RPD) - 76th avenue se tO 82nd ave se, NORTH OF NORTH MERCER WAY

This permit program restricts some on-street parking access to residents living within the boundary of the North Mercer Restricted Parking District (RPD) during the week. The program was established in 2003 to prevent commuter parking spillover when the Park-and-Ride is full. RPD permit boundaries are identified in purple in the image below and also listed for reference.

SE 24th Street: North side between 78th Avenue SE and 81st Avenue SE

78th Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and SE 22nd Place

80th Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and SE 22nd Street

81st Avenue SE: East side between North Mercer Way and SE 24th Street

82nd Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and 81st Ave SE

The RPD is also included on the new digital parking map available here: www.mercerisland.gov/tcparkingoptions. 

Regulations

• Permits are available only for Mercer Island residents whose home address falls within the boundaries of the RPD. Additional parking restrictions can be found in MICC 10.74.30(A).
• Guest Parking Permit: Residents within the RPD may apply for up to two guest parking permits.
• Temporary Contractor Parking Permit: Residents within the RPD may also obtain a permit for a temporary contractor who requires on-street parking in the RPD for more than two consecutive days and cannot be accommodated by the resident's Guest Parking Permit.
• The cost for each biannual permit is $25/biennium. Learn more about the program and how to purchase a permit here.