Stack parking has come to a new location on campus: the Gateway Parking Structure at the south entry.
With valet-like attendants in place as of Monday (Feb. 4), Transportation Services is now able to fit 75 more cars into the garage. The attendants will instruct drivers to park in the aisles once all regular spaces are full, and the attendants will move cars as needed to allow other drivers to exit. Those who plan to work late on campus may need to bring an extra set of car keys. Not including stack parking, the Gateway Parking Structure can hold about 700 vehicles.
TAPS made the announcement last week with an electronic message board on Old David Road and a Facebook post.
The complimentary practice is a temporary solution while additional programs are developed to encourage drivers to consider transportation methods other than driving alone to campus, like carpools, bicycling or public transit. An end date has not been set.
Stack parking in the Gateway garage will not be in place on the lower level (A permits) and will not affect metered spaces (often used by people visiting the nearby Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art).
Stack parking is also in use in Lot 47 (near the Tercero Residence Halls), the Quad Parking Structure (on Howard Way), Lot 25 (in front of the Activities and Recreation Center) and the Pavilion Parking Structure (adjacent to Hutchison Field).
Here’s how it works in all stack parking areas:
- If all of the spaces are full, an attendant will direct you to park in an aisle.
- You’ll leave your keys with the attendant, who may move your car throughout the day as other drivers need to leave.
- Stack parking hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you return after 6 p.m., you can get your keys from a TAPS employee in the kiosk at the entry of the Quad Parking Structure until 9:30 p.m. Miss that deadline and you’ll have to pick up your keys in the morning from an attendant where you originally parked. TAPS suggests bringing a spare set of keys if you know you’ll be returning to your car after 9:30.
- The attendants wear company jackets or shirts, and have visible ID badges.