Pay Station Lots - PAY TO PARK
Pay stations provide the following:
- An increased level of service and convenience to customers
- Better management of parking resources by maximizing utilization of valuable parking areas
- An alternative payment option, pay stations accept credit/debit card; a more universally acceptable payment option
- Reduced operational and maintenance costs associated with individual parking meters
- Improved aesthetics of campus by removing individual parking meters
| Temporary signage station units and lot entrances. This will be replaced with permanent signage in the future. Until then, please look for this signage: |
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Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below to learn about the pay stations; if you have further questions, contact us at (208) 885-6424, or email parking@uidaho.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why has PTS installed pay stations?
- Where are the pay stations located?
- Why were lots 108, 91, and 18 chosen to be converted to pay station lots?
- Who Who are the intended users of the pay stations?
- Is a Departmental, Delivery, Service, Vendor, or Disability permit valid in the pay station lots?
- How do I use the pay stations?tations?
- Can I use my paid receipt at more than one pay station lot, if my time has not expired?
- What type of payment is accepted?
- How much does it cost to park in a pay station lot?
- During what hours is payment required?
- What do I do if the pay station is malfunctioning?
- What can I do if I receive a citation because my receipt fell off the window?
- How much did the pay stations cost PTS?
- Does PTS plan to install more pay stations on campus?
- Other interesting tidbits about the pay stations
1. Why has PTS installed pay stations?
Pay stations at the University of Idaho will provide better service and convenience to users of the parking system. In addition, pay stations allow for efficient management and operation, including a reduction in resources spent enforcing, managing, and gathering user data. The following outlines why we have chosen to install pay stations on campus and eliminate individual parking meters:
- Users may pay for any amount of time necessary, including payment for an entire day, without ever returning to the vehicle
- Variable time parking allows PTS to offer longer-term parking at reduced hourly rates to users of the pay stations
- Pay stations allow payment via credit/debit cards and coins, recent trends are proving credit/debit cards to be more readily available than coins; the credit/debit system is secure and compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI)
- Pay stations are user-friendly and will operate with few malfunctions
- Pay station lots provide an alternative parking option for a visitor or an infrequent automobile commuter; instead of going to the Parking Office to purchase a Visitor permit or daily permit, the individual can go straight to the parking lot and pay to park all day
2. Where are the pay stations located?
There are 3 parking areas that have been converted to pay station lots.
- Student Recreation Center – west parking lot (lot 108)
- Student Union Building – north parking lot (lot 18)
- Upper Rayburn Street – on-street parking (lot 91)
Click here for a map of these locations.
3. Why were lots 108, 91, and 18 chosen to be converted to pay station lots?
Lot 108 – Student Recreation Center (SRC), west lot
The west parking lot at the SRC previously was intended for SRC patron parking only. Survey data confirmed consistent underutilization and we predict that the pay station lot will increase lot utilization while increasing customer satisfaction. Enforcing the lot will be more efficient, less labor intensive and will require no extra resources. Survey data also confirmed that this lot wants to be used by daily campus commuters, while SRC east parking lot (lot 107) will adequately meet the parking demand of SRC patrons. After 4 p.m. east parking lot 108 will become available to SRC patrons only, with no payment required.
Lot 18 – Student Union Building (SUB), north lot
Survey data confirmed consistent underutilization of the SUB parking lot. We predict that the pay station will increase lot utilization while increasing customer satisfaction. The installation of a pay station in this lot allowed us to remove 28 individual parking meters; resulting in more time for PTS staff to focus resources in prominent areas of campus. In addition, replacing individual meters in this area with a pay station will better service our customers.
Lot 91 – Upper Rayburn Street, on-street parking
The installation of the pay stations in this lot allowed us to remove 31 individual parking meters; resulting in more time for PTS staff to focus resources in prominent areas of campus. In addition, replacing individual meters in this area with a pay station will better service our customers. Users may pay for any amount of time needed, and will not be rushed back up the hill to re-pay a meter.
4. Who are the intended users of the pay stations?
The pay stations are available for use by all faculty, staff, students and visitors to the University of Idaho.
We strongly encourage the following types of parkers to use the pay station lots:
- Those who use alternative modes of transportation, but occasionally drive to campus
- Visitors/guests
5. Is a Departmental, Delivery, Service, Vendor, or Disability permit valid in the pay station lots?
Though these are not the intended users of the pay station lots, Departmental, Delivery, Service, Vendor, and Disability permits are all valid in the pay station lots with the same regulations as parking in an individual meter. View the University of Idaho Parking Regulations for more details on the specific regulations for these permits types at meters and pay stations.
6. How do I use the pay stations?
The pay stations are very user-friendly and have instructions posted on each machine, the image below is exactly what is posted on the pay stations. The sticker on the back of the receipt needs to be used to display the receipt on the inside of the drivers side window, so that the text on the receipt is visible from the outside.
7. Can I use my paid receipt at more than one pay station lot, if my time has not expired?
No. The location that payment was made will be printed on the receipt; this means that it is only to be used to validate parking at the location where payment was made.
8. What type of payment is accepted?
The pay stations accept Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit/debit cards, as well as United States quarters, nickels, dimes, and dollar coins.
9. How much does it cost to park in a pay station lot?
The current hourly rates were determined with the intent of maximizing utilization of the pay station lots. You may notice some of the hourly rates are lower than the individual parking meter rates (currently $1/hour).
The hourly rates may be adjusted throughout the year, based on average utilization, in order to maximize utilization of the pay station lots.
The hourly rate varies based on the time of day and the location, as follows:
Lot 108 – Student Recreation Center (SRC), west lot
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. = SRC use only, no payment required
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. = $0.75/hour
After 4 p.m. = SRC use only, no
payment required
No Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Lot 18 – Student Union Building (SUB), north lot
6 a.m. to 8 a.m. = $0.50/hour
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. = $0.75/hour
After 4 p.m. = no payment required
No Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Lot 91 – Upper Rayburn Street, on-street parking
6 a.m. to 8 a.m. = $0.75/hour
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
= $1.50/hour
4 p.m. to 9 p.m. = $0.75/hour
After 9 p.m. = no payment required
No
Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
10. During what hours is payment required?
Payment is required at different times, determined by the location, as follows:
Lot 108 – Student Recreation Center (SRC), west lot
Payment required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lot 18 – Student Union Building (SUB), north lot
Payment required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lot 91 – Upper Rayburn Street, on-street parking
Payment required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
11. What do I do if the pay station is malfunctioning?
If the pay station is malfunctioning when you attempt to make payment, the first thing to do, if possible, is call (208) 885-6424. We will correct the error as soon as possible.
If one form of payment is currently out of order, users will be expected to pay for parking via the alternative payment method.
If the machine is reading out of order, users in lot 91 should use the second pay station located in this area. Users of lot 108 and 18 will need to find an alternative location to park; the pay station lot will automatically convert to a “No Parking” area, until payment can be accepted again.
12. What can I do if I receive a citation because my receipt fell off the window?
If you receive a citation because your receipt fell off of the window and was not visible to the Parking Attendant, you may request to have the citation fine reduced to $5. The citation must have been received within the time frame that you paid for parking, as noted on your payment receipt. Requests for citation fine reductions in this case, must be made within 15 days from the date on the citation. Otherwise, the full fine will remain.
13. How much did the pay stations cost PTS?
Total cost of purchase of four pay stations, including extra parts and installation was $64,080.
14. Does PTS plan to install more pay stations on campus?
One of our long-term goals is to eliminate individual parking meters and replace with either pay stations, or convert the spaces to a specific type in order to meet a different need. At this time, we do not have plans to purchase additional pay stations.
15. Other interesting tidbits about the pay stations
- The pay station units communicate with the server and merchant for credit card processing in real-time (with a modem), this allows credit card transactions to finalize within 12 seconds
- Pay stations are solar powered, operating with a 5 watt solar panel which will charge the battery every day in each unit
- The stations are multilingual
- PTS can run web reports to collect utilization data, as well as make rate and policy changes from the office, in just a few minutes