Parking Update at VA Puget Sound Health Care System

Garage Under Construction

Parking at VA Puget Sound Health Care is going to be tight until the new parking garage is completed in a couple of years. For obvious reasons, the garage is sited close to the main entrance, so that when it's done, parking will be maximally convenient, but what that means is that during construction, parking is not so convenient.
Based on going there at least once a week in the past year, I offer a few tips:

• Valet Parking. The valet parking system is humming along smoothly. To get there, you basically take a circle around the perimeter of the existing lot. Valet parking is pretty quick and has the advantage of being a stop for the golf carts too, so if you have limited mobility, this might be your first choice.
• Combine Appointments, Take The Bus, Rideshare. The fewer trips you make, the less you have to find parking. If you can travel with another veteran, you can complain about parking together!
• Saturday Appointments. Some clinics have Saturday appointments, and if you can get one, your parking problem is solved. The lot is almost empty on Saturday.
• Motorcycle. Personally, I think y'all nuts to ride those things, but there's always a couple of spots open for them.
• Watch Out For "No Parking" Signs. In the neighborhood near the hospital, there are sometimes parking spaces on the street. Be very respectful of driveways the neighbors are nice people and we don't want to make them suffer any more than they have to. But above all, stay away from "No Parking" areas, as the city Parking Enforcement comes by on a regular basis. I have seen so many people get ticketed that it's not funny.
• Come Early, Drink Coffee. Although valet parking is pretty much a guarantee of a space within a reasonable time, the line does back up especially in the morning, so you're probably better off getting here early so you don't miss an appointment. If you have time to kill, stop by the DAV Coffee Cart by the basement elevators!

(Photos are from the VA Puget Sound Facebook page.)

Some Day Parking ...