How Seattle is contending with delivery boom
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Cities are grappling with balancing the needs of all roadway users as deliveries surge. Photo: Toby Scott/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Seattle is seeing a rise in deliveries that's reshaping urban life, with neighborhoods like SODO, South Lake Union, and Belltown experiencing some of the highest activity, traffic experts say.
Why it matters: The rise in deliveries brings with it more vehicles, increasing traffic congestion and curb availability challenges, INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue tells Axios.
The big picture: This isn't just a Seattle issue — increased deliveries (from food to packages) in cities across the globe are straining the balance between consumer needs, business logistics and traffic flow, and many are experimenting with how to adjust, according to the World Economic Forum.
- Some cities, like New York City and Boston, are trying app-based systems that help delivery trucks find available spots and let drivers know how long they can stay.
- Portland has taken an innovative approach by piloting zero-emission cargo bikes for deliveries downtown, to reduce freight vehicle traffic in congested areas.
- Facing similar port city challenges as Seattle, Brooklyn announced this year it would be adding micro-hubs to its marine terminal with electric vehicles and cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries.
What they did: In a new analysis compiled for Axios, INRIX, a Kirkland-based transportation data company, factored in population density and deliveries to find the city's hot spots.
What they found: The analysis identified a significant volume of deliveries in Georgetown/King County Airport, Queen Anne, Ballard, First Hill and Capitol Hill.
- Other busy delivery neighborhoods include the U-District, the Chinatown/International District and Northgate.
What they're saying: "There's been an explosion in deliveries over the last couple years and the demand for freight will continue to go up," Pishue said "That's one driving prediction most experts agree on."
What's happening: Seattle is in the vanguard of cities building a digital parking system — in part to crack down on the glut of delivery vehicles that double-park and don't pay for the spaces they occupy.
- Seattle partnered with Populus to map its public curb space and parking regulations, creating an API for commercial vehicle fleets and mapping services to enhance efficiency,
- The city aims to implement a "digital commercial vehicle permit" system and smart loading zones, which will allow for better traffic flow management and more effective enforcement of parking rules, the city said.