Penn launches campus parking improvement project with modernized payment, access options at garages

Penn Parking & Commuter Services is undertaking a project to modernize campus parking facilities with new technology and customer support.

The changes will include mobile pay options at parking garages, an updated web portal, and PennCard access to vehicle entry and exit lanes. The project is currently underway and is expected to be completed in the coming months, according to the Penn Almanac announcement. 

The improvements are aimed at upgrading both the hardware and software of the campus parking infrastructure, with the goal of enhancing the customer experience.

“The investments in equipment, systems, and new product development will not only address current needs in our facilities but will allow us to provide more parking options in the future," Joe Russo, senior director of the Division of Business Services, said in the announcement. 

The project will introduce real-time, video-on-demand customer support at all entrances, exits, and payment kiosks. Patrons will have access to live assistance 24/7, even when the parking facility is not staffed. In addition, Penn Parking is updating its Park@Penn portal to provide patrons with more convenience and flexibility. The revamped portal will offer features such as opt-in text messaging, improved management of vehicle and personal information, and easy-to-use change and cancellation request functions.

Another development is the introduction of new mobile pay options at garages and lots, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. The University is also installing new equipment at campus parking facilities, including entrance card readers, lighted gate arms, and pay-on-foot kiosks. Permit holders will be able to use their PennCards to gain access to vehicle entry and exit lanes, and pedestrian doors of their assigned garage.

The modernization project involved planning from various stakeholders across the University to ensure that the features align with the needs and expectations of the Penn community. The changes reflect feedback from surveys and focus groups. 

In Penn's Parking Program, faculty, staff, and graduate and postdoctoral students are able to apply for a permit. Penn is facing "a very high demand" for campus parking and most permits are operating on a wait list, according to the Penn Transportation & Parking website. Undergraduate students who commute have indicated the difficulty of finding accessible parking options. 

"I can usually only park my car after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m. because of how hard it is to find parking," Wharton sophomore Erin Hong said. “And when I do find parking, it's always so far from campus." 

Wharton first year Daisy Dai expressed optimism that the new project would make the parking experience more convenient.

“Because of how much of a nuisance it is to find parking on Penn’s campus, I didn’t want to bring my car,” Dai said. “But, with these new improvements, it will definitely be easier to keep my car here, which, in turn, makes it easier to commute back home or to different areas in Philly.”