Inside Iowa State

June 7, 2007

These pay machines are part of the new access system in the Memorial Union parking ramp. They'll accept cash and credit cards. Photo by Bob Elbert.

New MU parking pay system goes into use June 7

Thursday, June 7, is the anticipated start date for the new access and pay system for the Memorial Union parking ramp. Several construction and computer glitches delayed implementation of the new system this spring.

A key change with the new system is that daily and hourly users will pay for their parking, before they return to their vehicles, at one of the pay stations or with a cashier at the Memorial Union front desk. The machines accept bills, coins and credit cards and are at these locations:

• In the parking ramp, elevator lobby on level 1
• In the Memorial Union, first floor east entrance by the newspaper boxes (near MU Cafe and Onion's)
• (A third machine in the new northeast stairwell/entrance addition will go into use in late fall when construction is complete.)

Here's how the system works for hourly or daily users:

1. Take a ticket as you enter the ramp.

2. Take the ticket with you after you have parked your vehicle.

3. When it's time to return to your vehicle, stop first at one of the pay stations or at the MU front desk to pay for your parking (your validated ticket will be returned to you).

4. Keep moving; you have a 15-minute grace period to get to your vehicle and arrive at the exit gate (this length can be adjusted by MU staff on high-traffic days).

5. At the exit gate, insert your validated ticket into the ticket reader to raise the gate arm. It's not possible to pay at the exit gate.

Permit holders

Another key change is that drivers with semester or annual permits for the ramp won't have to deal with tickets. They have been issued proximity cards, and card readers at the entrances and exit will permit them to come and go as they need to. Permit holders will continue to display a permit hang tag or sticker identifying them as an MU permit holder. MU parking permits can be purchased at the main hotel desk from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 2007-08 annual permits ($417) are on sale now. Fall semester permits ($173) go on sale July 1.

The new Memorial Union parking pay system should be up and running on June 7.