The success of credit card acceptance in the parking garages have sparked changes that are planned to take effect as early as spring break.
All booths are to be removed from Lot A, and new automated card readers are to be installed in their place.
“The credit cards worked very well and we had a lot of positive feedback,” Business Services Director Paul Murphy said. “When we chose the new equipment, we integrated so that it would take both the Tartan card and the credit card.”
Although cash will not be accepted in Lot A after spring break, the choice to remove cash completely was not made to hinder students, according to Murphy.
“Cash is a very slow process,” he said. “Most students use their Tartan cards, and visitors use cash — to offset that, the staff parking lot on Fourth and Perry Streets will be converted into a visitor’s parking lot.”
With the visitors parking set to be in the lot at Fourth and Perry Streets, Murphy said Lot A would be a true “student’s garage.” With the addition of the new automated equipment, the garage will allow students to enter and exit more quickly, and will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The cashiers that are currently in the booths will be converted to “customer service agents,” who will help if a student is in need.
“We’re going to have customer service agents walking around,” he said. “It’s not like you’re going to pull up if something goes wrong and have no one around to help.”
Intercoms will also be available for students when a customer service agent is not in sight or nearby.
Murphy said the ultimate goal of the new equipment is to help students get out of the garage more efficiently.
“I think students will love the new change because it enables them to get out faster,” he said. “We want people to understand why we are transitioning and to see how easy this machine will be to operate.”
Lot K, however, will remain the same, with a booth and a cashier following spring break.
“Lot K will be phase two,” he said. “We are doing this in phases and it is a very large project.”
Murphy said not only can the change be seen as a way for quicker exit, but it has given the campus a chance to replace the old equipment that has been around more than 25 years.
“I encourage students to use their Tartan cards because of the discount,” he said. “If you use your Tartan card you won’t have to bring cash to campus.”
The new equipment was paid for through capital funding.
For students who find that the magnetic stripe on their Tartan card have stopped working, it is recommended that they get their Tartan card replaced.
“I agree with everybody, it’s not easy to get out of the parking garage — it takes time,” he said. “Pulling that cash out of the parking garage and making it a true student lot, I think for our students is best.”
“I think students will love the new change because it enables them to get out faster,” he said. “We want people to understand why we are transitioning and to see how easy this machine will be to operate.”
Lot K, however, will remain the same, with a booth and a cashier following spring break.
“Lot K will be phase two,” he said. “We are doing this in phases and it is a very large project.”
Murphy said not only can the change be seen as a way for quicker exit, but it has given the campus a chance to replace the old equipment that has been around more than 25 years.
“I encourage students to use their Tartan cards because of the discount,” he said. “If you use your Tartan card you won’t have to bring cash to campus.”
The new equipment was paid for through capital funding.
For students who find that the magnetic stripe on their Tartan card have stopped working, it is recommended that they get their Tartan card replaced.
“I agree with everybody, it’s not easy to get out of the parking garage — it takes time,” he said. “Pulling that cash out of the parking garage and making it a true student lot, I think for our students is best.”