Parking and Transit
Getting to Downtown Alameda is easy. Whether you need assistance or just want to leave the car behind, there are plenty of convenient choices...
Downtown Parking
PLEASE NOTE: With the temporary lane reduction on Park Street between Lincoln Ave and Encinal Ave, 15-minute parking zones have been created to make it easy for downtown customers to pick up takeout food and store orders.
The Civic Center Parking Structure is the best place for longer-term parking and offers low rates for parking near downtown businesses and civic institutions -- rates are half the cost of parking meters, paid hours end at 5:00pm instead of 6:00pm, and parking validation is available for some activities.
The 341-space Civic Center Parking Structure is located at 1416 Oak Street (between Santa Clara Ave and Lincoln Ave, and only one block from Park Street). The parking garage is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Patrons pre-pay for parking for up to four hours between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate in the garage is $0.75 per hour.
The City also operates two surface parking lots in Downtown Alameda with easy access to Park Street, and street parking in front of businesses outside the core area. Hourly fees for all meters are in effect Monday - Saturday, 9:00am - 6:00pm.
Lot A is accessible from Park Avenue between Central Avenue and Santa Clara Avenue.
Lot C is accessible from both Central Avenue and Alameda Avenue between Oak Street and Park Street.
Accessible Parking
The City has disability parking spaces (blue zones) in all City-run surface lots as well as the Civic Center Parking Garage. They are also working on plans to add on-street blue zones in the Park Street area.
EV Charging Stations
There are three spaces with re-charging stations reserved for electric cars on the first floor of the Civic Center Garage. Payment for parking in these spaces is the same as all other spaces in the garage.
Bicycle Parking
There are 24 bike racks and 16 electronic BikeLink lockers (elockers) located in the Civic Center Garage. BikeLink cards can be purchased at www.bikelink.org and can be used at any BikeLink locker located throughout the Bay Area. These are very low-cost lockers that cost only $0.05 per hour.
Additionally, bicycle racks are conveniently located in front of businesses throughout the downtown district.
Looking for more information on parking in Alameda, including resources for Parking Citations and Towed Vehicles? Review the City of Alameda's Auto Parking FAQs.
Bus Transit
AC Transit serves Downtown Alameda via the 19, 20, 21, and 51A bus lines. These pass through Alameda and connect to the BART stations at Fruitvale and in Downtown Oakland. Transbay service is provided via Line O.
Line 78 is a shuttle that runs from Fruitvale BART to the Alameda Seaplane Ferry Terminal, with a stop at Park Street & Santa Clara Ave and other places along the way. It's a fantastic way to get to Downtown Alameda from other parts of the island, or from Downtown San Francisco. Line 78 schedule | Ferry Schedule
See the AC Transit website to view all route maps and schedules. To plan a trip, go to www.511.org.
Alameda Loop Shuttle
This service has been discontinued, effective April 5, 2022.
Premium Taxi Service
The City of Alameda offers a premium taxi service program for residents 70-years or older or East Bay Paratransit-certified. Eligible riders must purchase the discount taxi vouchers in advance.
See the Alameda Paratransit website for more information.