Starting next week, validations will not be required for patients and visitors to park at VUMC. (file photo)
Changes designed to ease parking for patients, visitors
Several changes for those who park at the Medical Center have occurred or will occur soon, said Gary Streaty, director of Medical Center Parking and Transportation Services.
Beginning Jan. 15, parking validations will no longer be required for patients and visitors.
“For the last several months we have run a pilot program that allowed patients and visitors to exit without using the cashiering stations,” Streaty said. “In place of cashiers at the exits, we now have greeters at the entrances. The greeters are there to provide assistance to patients and visitors upon arrival.
“Soon the greeters will issue color coded entry tickets. The color of the ticket that will correspond with a specific parking location and help our patients and visitors find the garage that they parked in.”
The parking valets at VUMC parked more than 440,000 cars in 2011, the number of daily self-parkers averages 7,500 per day and parking volumes are expected to continue to increase in 2012 and beyond.
“With patient and visitor parking being limited, it is extremely important that all faculty, staff and students park in their designated location when working,” Streaty said. “Faculty, staff and students are allowed to park in patient/visitor areas while they are a patient or visitor at the hospital.”
He noted that due to the increase in demand, which is anticipated to grow once the seventh and 10th floors of the Critical Care Tower open later this year, increased enforcement efforts are under way.
“If you receive a citation and you feel it was issued in error, please know the purpose of our appeals process is to correct these errors as soon as we learn about them,” he said.
As always, all vehicles parked on VUMC property by faculty, staff and students of the Medical Center must be registered with VUMC Parking and Transportation Services. Failure to register your vehicle and park in the properly designated area at the correct times as outlined in the Parking Privileges on the Parking and Transportation Services website will result in a citation. Medical Center faculty, staff and students can register for a parking permit in the VUMC Parking Permit Office which is located in the East Garage on the ground level.
Streaty also noted that the transition to total in-house management of parking operations has been completed. This transition began on July 1, and ended a 30-year parking partnership with Central Parking.
“Results of the first Vanderbilt staff survey indicate our new parking staff are very satisfied with the transition,” he said.
For more information about VUMC Parking and Transportation Services please visit www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/parking or call 936-0686.