Parking can be a pain when attending an event at the Rose Quarter, with many people opting for street parking and a bit of a stroll to spare their wallets an exorbitant garage fee. But that minor inconvenience has long been a major annoyance for people who live in the area.

As of October 2024, there are now parking time limits in the Eliot neighborhood (about a 15 minute walk from the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum). The update caps parking at two hours, from 5-10 p.m. every day, October through May.

Looking at those months, you might be able to deduce the main culprit driving this change — those dates align with the Portland Trail Blazers' season. The newly designated Zone V was created by the Portland Bureau of Transportation with the support of local residents and businesses, who saw their parking options dwindle whenever there was a game or a concert.

Parking permits are available to eligible residents and their guests, as well as eligible businesses, nonprofits, and employees. Those will cost $80 annually, with discounted rates based on median family income. More free and temporary options are also on the table.

PBOT encourages people to use public transportation, park in off-street parking facilities near the event venues, or park in the Lloyd Event District. | Graphic via PBOT

The solution is one that's been sought after since at least 1992.

“For so many years, residents have been unable to have guests come over due to block after block being full of eventgoers," said Allan Rudwick, Eliot Neighborhood Association Land Use & Transportation chair. "Some residents schedule their grocery outings around the games. Event attendees park at 6:30 p.m. or earlier and leave after residents go to bed. People coming home from work have nowhere to park within five blocks of their home. We are excited that parking management may solve these issues."