Humphrey Road lot adopts new fees and plans payment upgrades

Humphrey Road commuter parking above the Clinton ferry terminal will move to a two-tier fee schedule starting Feb. 1 after the Port of South Whidbey board approved the change Jan. 16. The new structure charges $5 for the first 12 hours and $10 for 24 hours, and quarterly permits will increase to $200.

Port officials said the shift responds to practical enforcement limits. Small, short-term time increments proved difficult to manage with current staffing levels, and the board sought a simpler system that discourages long-term occupancy while keeping Humphrey Road rates below a nearby commuter lot. The port’s executive director noted the change is intended to target longer-term parkers even as it preserves a comparatively lower rate for shorter stays.

Today the lot accepts only cash and checks. The port plans to modernize payment options, eventually adding credit-card processing and a booking platform such as RoverPass to streamline transactions and enforcement. Those upgrades are not immediate, so commuters should expect the Feb. 1 fees to be in place while the lot continues to operate on the current payment system.

For daily users and ferry commuters who rely on the Clinton terminal, the two-tier price will alter routine calculations about parking length and cost. Occasional users who park for brief trips to town will likely pay the lower 12-hour rate, while commuters who previously left vehicles in the lot for multiple days may face higher out-of-pocket expenses or consider the $200 quarterly permit if they are regular users. The permit increase will be a particular consideration for residents who work off-island or use the ferry frequently for medical appointments and regional travel.

Local businesses and ferry-bound visitors could see small downstream effects if parking behavior shifts to other lots or times. Because the port intends to keep Humphrey Road rates lower than a nearby commuter lot, officials appear to be balancing revenue and access to avoid pushing island commuters into more distant or more expensive parking options.

Implementation on Feb. 1 will simplify enforcement practices immediately, while the promised payment upgrades aim to modernize the lot and make compliance easier to monitor. Island commuters should prepare by bringing cash or checks through the initial transition, review whether a quarterly permit makes financial sense, and watch for announcements from the port about the rollout of credit-card payments and a booking platform. The change marks a modest but tangible shift in how islanders access the Clinton ferry, with practical effects on daily commutes and parking habits in the weeks ahead.