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Lots Better: MIT Parking Goes Online
Esther Yanow
If you park at MIT, you can now apply for MIT parking online. Eligible parkers enter their vehicle information and choose a payment method. Employees submit their applications directly to the Parking Office; students submit their applications to their Parking Coordinator.
Parking Coordinators benefit even more from the new online system. They no longer have to create and maintain their own spreadsheets and keep track of the paper applications. They can access a list of parkers, and assign the permits (e.g., regular, occasional) and parking areas. They can also check their parking allocation numbers and note how many spaces are still available.
Finally, the new paperless system improves the way the Parking Office does business. In the past, the Parking Office had to hire temporary help to manually enter information from approximately 7,000 paper applications into its parking system. It took over a month to complete all the data entry work. Now, all application information is submitted electronically, eliminating data entry.
A Few Features
Knowing all of MIT's parking rules and fees
can be a challenge. Now you can learn some of
the basics from the FAQs that appear on each
application screen. You can also get to the
complete MIT Parking Guide from every web page
within the site.
The violation warning feature helps speed up the parking application process. You are notified immediately of any outstanding violations. A screen provides the details, such as the number of violations, when they occurred, and the fees. If you have outstanding fees, you'll need to pay them before you can get a permit.
Requirements
To use the new system, you need a Kerberos ID,
a personal certificate, and a supported web
browser. If, for any reason, you are unable
to apply for parking, your Parking Coordinator
will be able to help, as long as you can provide
an MIT ID or Kerberos ID.
Where to Start
If you're eligible for parking at MIT, you can
apply for parking wherever you are this summer.
Whether you're vacationing in Paris, visiting
the North Pole, or working in your MIT office,
your parking application will be waiting for
you. If you're not accessing the Web from your
regular computer - say you're online at an Internet
cafe - you can download
a personal temporary certificate.
Just set the certificate lifetime to one day, to minimize your vulnerability to unauthorized use. Ready to apply? Go to the MIT Online Parking Services web page and select the appropriate choice: student parking or faculty, staff, or affiliate parking.
