New renewal process eases Medical Center parking
Automatic renewal of Vanderbilt University Medical Center parking permits is under way for most staff and faculty, with the added bonus of no parking rate increase this year.
Ken Browning, director of Plant Operations, and Gary Streaty, director of Medical Center Parking and Transportation Services, say that the smoother permit renewal is one of several ways that parking and transportation issues are continuing to improve around VUMC.
“About 95 percent of people on payroll deduction for parking will have their permit auto-renewed,” Streaty said. “People who have no changes in their personal profile, such as their address or car registration, need do nothing at all. Their parking permit will be automatically sent to the home address.”
If permit holders need to update their personal profile they should do so at the Parking and Transportation Web site by Dec. 31. The Parking and Transportation office will contact and assist those who are not currently eligible for participation in the auto renewal process, Streaty said.
Browning and Streaty also noted the continued progress on the Children's Way Garage, which is planned to open next October under the name West Garage. The new garage, a joint project between the Medical Center and University Central, will have approximately 1,500 VUMC parking spaces, which may provide options for people currently on the waiting list for the South Garage.
“Rates and a process for applying for the West Garage will be announced at a later date,” Browning said.
Among other parking and transportation improvements already completed or under way:
• Following the completion of the Critical Care Tower, Medical Center Drive will soon become a two-way street again for the first time in two years.
• New traffic lights on Children's Way help manage traffic flow on that busy street.
• The move of several hundred staff and faculty to One Hundred Oaks earlier this year freed up campus parking and reduced congestion.
• Parking and Transportation is overseeing an increased focus on pedestrian safety and protecting valuables in garages.
• Vanderbilt Police and Parking and Transportation staff are conducting speed checks in garages. Those violating the 10 miles-per-hour limit are subject to tickets.
• New Central Parking employees based at VUMC now participate in Hearts and Minds orientation.
• More than 350,000 cars were parked in the past year by VUMC valets, who work for Central Parking.
“Central Parking also managed Los Angeles International Airport's valet parking, and ours is bigger,” Browning said. “ In terms of volume, our valet program is one of the largest in the country.”