Port Removes Vehicle Height Restriction in Sea-Tac Garage

Effective Friday, Jan. 31, vehicles up to seven feet tall will again be accommodated

The Port of Seattle announced today that vehicles of up to seven feet in height will once again be able to be parked in the garage at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A reduced height limit had been in effect since last summer; the Port gained approval from the Transportation Security Administration to remove the restriction.

"This means we can provide more convenient parking to more customers," said Rod Hilden, General Manager of the airport's Landside Line of Business. "The reduced limit meant that many customers had to park their vehicles in our over-height parking area."

The airport's overheight parking lot is small, and was consistently full because of the lowered height in the garage. Though the height restriction affected only about 1 percent of garage customers, that 1 percent included a large number of persons with disabilities, who often own over-height vehicles to accommodate wheelchairs and other equipment.

"We value all our customers and want to provide good service," said Hilden. "This change will make parking much easier for many people -- and it will particularly assist persons with disabilities. Many more of our disabled customers will be able to use the designated disabled parking places located close to elevators inside the airport garage."

Hilden pointed out that a change in the nation's security readiness level could force the Port back to the lower height restriction of 6'6". Should federal officials re-impose restrictions on airport garages, the Port will have no choice but to return to the lower height.