2018 parking renewal process changes

Parking changes
Why now?
How it works
Will I need a sticker?
Additional vehicle
Renewal
Cost
Temporary changes to payroll deductions
Compare to Occasional
First-time parker
License Plate Recognition
How can you tell I’m authorized?
Additional questions

What parking changes are currently being implemented by the Parking & Transportation Office?

In addition to changing the renewal process as described here (which encompasses a shift away from physical stickers and the incorporation of License Plate Recognition technology), we are simplifying the payment options for parking, which now include credit card autopayments. We are also launching a new parking dashboard in October that provides improved views of your parking activity, transaction history, payment details, and more. You may also notice that the billing cycle is shorter, so your parking activity and parking charges are more closely aligned.

Most people who park at MIT will see the following changes:

• No more physical stickers on your car
• Daily parking rate for most commuters
• Automatic renewal each year (you can opt out of parking and/or make changes any time)
• Parking activity billing cycles that align more closely with weekly and semi-monthly payroll cycles
• Motorcycles can now be registered through same process as other vehicles (no need for a specific motorcycle permit)
• All parkers need a Kerberos account (sometimes called an Athena or MIT account)

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Why are these parking changes being implemented now?

The Parking & Transportation Office is migrating the parking management system from AIMS to SAP, MIT’s financial system. This is also an opportunity to simplify processes and integrate new technologies such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology.

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How will the renewal process work this year? Are the forms different from last year?

This year, the renewal process is similar to how you have renewed in past years by completing a parking request form online. The form will look different because we have migrated to the new system. This is the last year you will need to fill out a form to renew parking. Going forward, your parking will renew automatically every year unless you cancel parking.

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Will I still need a sticker for my car?

No, we are transitioning away from stickers this year. The parking system will detect that you are permitted to park based on your MIT ID card and/or your license plate.

• For parkers in gated lots, the card reader at the gate will record your gate entrances and exits when you tap your MIT ID card, and you will be charged the daily rate fee. (Note that you will only be charged once per day for parking within your approved parking area, even if you move your car or enter and exit the lot multiple times in one day.)
• For parkers in ungated lots, your license plate will be scanned by an MIT Parking Enforcement vehicle that patrols the lots throughout the day. The scanner will use License Plate Recognition software to connect your license plate to your parking account and record the transaction, and you will be charged the daily rate fee. (Note: Regardless of how many times your license plate is scanned in one day, you will only be charged once per day.)
• If you attempt to park in an area where you are not authorized, either the gate won’t open (for an ungated lot) or the LPR will record a violation when it scans your plate (in an ungated lot).

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Can I apply to get parking for a second vehicle? If I don’t have stickers to put on the cars, how do you know both of them are authorized to park?

If you are a commuter with on-campus parking, you can have up to three vehicles (including motorcycles) on your account. You can list multiple vehicles when you apply for parking, and/or you can add vehicles to your account after you have obtained parking. The gate reader (at gated lots) and the LPR scanner (in ungated lots) will both be able to recognize all of the cars associated with your parking account. However, note that only one vehicle at a time is authorized to park on campus.

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Will I need to re-apply for parking next year?

No, you will not need to re-apply for parking on campus after this year. After September 2018, your parking account will automatically renew as long as you are eligible for parking. You can opt out of parking at any time by contacting the Parking & Transportation Office.

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Will the cost of my parking change?

The cost of your parking may change based on changes we have made to streamline parking processes. Details about annual fees and parking rates are available here.

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Will there be any changes to payroll deductions during the transition to the new system?

Yes. Employees who pay using payroll deduction may see two parking line items on their statements for a brief period during the transition. This will happen between the last week of September and the end of October 2018. The payment overlap will occur because the new system will deduct parking charges from the paycheck following any parking activity, whereas the old system processed payroll deductions more slowly, up to six weeks after the parking activity. In consideration of this, we will not be charging students or employees the annual parking fee during fall 2018. View a detailed schedule of payroll deductions.

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I used to have an Occasional parking permit. What will I have now?

Even if your parking account has a different name now, it is a similar account. You can continue to park on campus for a daily rate, and you are not locked into a monthly or annual parking plan. You can continue to choose between driving to campus or commuting a different way each day.

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I’m a new parker, requesting parking for the first time. What do I need to know?

Every parker can find more information in the following specific sections:

• Employee and emeritus faculty parking
• Student parking
• Resident parking
• Affiliate parking (i.e., alumni, contractors, cross-registered students, DAPER members, retired faculty and staff, summer parkers, vendors, and volunteers)

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What is License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology?

For more information about LPR, visit our LPR page.

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If I no longer have a sticker, then how will I know where I am authorized to park?

You can log into your parking dashboard at any time to view which areas and lots you have been assigned to for parking. (When you renew parking for the 2018-2019 parking cycle, you will also receive an email confirming your parking lot assignment.)

Your parking authorization is now based on a parking account (essentially a collection of information associated with your MIT ID card and your license plate) instead of a physical sticker on your car.

• For parkers in gated lots, you will need your MIT ID card to enter and exit through the gates. If you are not authorized to park in a particular area, the gate will not open.
• For parkers in ungated lots, your license plate will be scanned by License Plate Recognition (LPR) software installed on an MIT Parking Enforcement vehicle that patrols the lots.

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I have additional questions. What should I do?

We recommend you explore the other FAQ sections to see whether your question is answered here. You may also reach out to the Parking & Transportation Office by calling 617-258-6510 or emailing mitparking@mit.edu.

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