By Jimi Jo Story
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 15, 1997

New parking garage payment procedure implemented

Visitors, students and faculty who park in the structure at North Mountain Avenue and East Second Street will no longer be greeted by a cashier asking for $6 as they enter the garage.

Instead, they will find a machine that will spit out a ticket, part of a new parking system called Central Cashier.

Marlis Davis, director of Parking and Transportation Services, said the newly-installed system was scheduled at the beginning of the fiscal year with the hope that the change would provide a more efficient and economical parking experience for customers.

"We had been having customers pay for a full day ($6) upon entrance into the garage," Davis said. "Now there will be an hourly rate of $1.25 which is paid when they exit the garage."

Davis noted that there may be a revenue decrease for Parking and Transportation Services, but it will not be reflected in parking permit prices for 1997-98.

The new system, which began operation Jan. 8, will have no effect on those with parking permits for the garage, Davis said.

Perhaps the biggest change is that customers must go to a cashier office on the east side of the first level to pay for their parking. This is a walk-up, not a drive-up service, which Parking and Transportation employees say is a bit confusing for many customers.

Enforcement Officer Martin Augustine said that people who drive up to the office often create a parking hazard, blocking the path out of the garage. "People who don't follow instructions don't like (the new system)," he said.

Customers then feed their paid tickets into the machine as they exit the garage and the mechanical arm will raise.

Cashier Gerry Varelas said, "I hear both pros and cons from the parkers. Some like it because they realize they will save money with the rate change, others have complaints. People are resistant to change, but I think they will eventually like it. Personally, I think it's definitely an improvement."

Varelas said there were often lines of cars stretching down the street waiting to enter the garage. He said he feels the new system will cut down on those lines.

He added that now that classes have begun, the garage will probably be full by 8 or 9 a.m.

"I think the system is going to be a real benefit once we work the kinks out. Explaining how the Central Cashier system works, that it's a walk up, not drive up - it will work out with time," said Daniel Moseke, parking coordinator for the university garages.

Davis said that there had been some complaints about the new system. "People don't like changes," Davis said, "but we're doing our best to provide a better service to the community."

Moseke said, "We're very open to comments and suggestions and hope that customers will be willing to give us input."