EasyPay Parking Conversion Near Completion

The many thousands of visitors daily to the Texas Medical Center are now experiencing a new kind of parking environment. Texas Medical Center, which operates more than 60 percent of the parking on campus, has been steadily converting visitor parking facilities to a new self-pay system over the past few months. The campus-wide conversion was completed March 3, when Parking Garage 2 made the transition.

The new EasyPay Parking System allows the visitor to self-pay upon exit at a user-friendly machine. Visitors continue to take a ticket from the ticket dispenser upon entry into the parking facility, but instead of presenting the ticket to a cashier in a kiosk, customers now process the payment themselves. The machine, which resembles an Automated Teller Machine, requires the customer to make payment for parking when they have completed their visit, but before they return to their vehicle. The visitor begins by inserting the ticket into the machine; the machine calculates the amount of time the visitor has been in the facility and then indicates amount due. Once the customer has made payment using either cash, credit card or validation tickets, the machine encodes the ticket as paid and the ticket is returned to the customer, along with any change due. The customer also has the option to request a printed receipt of the transaction. Once the transaction is complete, the visitor has an allotted amount of time - between 10 and 20 minutes - to exit the facility. At the garage exit, the visitor will insert the paid ticket into a reader and the gatearm will raise and allow the visitor to exit the facility.

Texas Medical Center contracted the services of McGann Software Systems to install the EasyPay system. Instructions for using the machine are displayed on the EasyPay station and a voice-automated system "talks" the customer through the transaction. The machines are accessible for the disabled and have a feature that allows the display screen to give instructions in Spanish when prompted. All machines are equipped with an intercom system that allows customers requiring assistance to speak directly with a customer representative. Signage throughout the parking facility directs visitors to the locations of the EasyPay machines and, most importantly, reminds customers to "take their ticket with them."

Popular now for years in Europe and Canada, the many advantages of self-pay parking are just being realized here in the United States. Texas Medical Center senior vice president Joyce Camp believes the system will provide added benefits. For the customer, this includes a reduced waiting time exiting the garage.

"With a cashiering system, cars often back up in the garage as customers reach for change, write checks or ask directions," states Camp.

Additionally, customers have the option of paying by credit card, a feature not offered before. The new technology replaces a system whose computer hardware, software and field equipment has reached the end of its functional life.

As Camp explains, "Replacement of parts and maintenance of the old system was becoming more and more difficult. In addition, the ability to provide enhanced revenue control is very important to us."

Garage Ambassadors also are on hand to assist with the EasyPay machines. The ambassadors, many formerly TMC cashiers, have been trained to assist people using the machines, as well as provide other services in the parking facility. These services include helping visitors with directions and helping coordinate assistance with lost vehicles, battery boosts and more.

"Our goal is not to have machines replace people, but instead to create an environment where we can more effectively utilize our personnel to assist the public. A cashier's ability to help was limited by his or her confinement to a kiosk," states Camp.

Now that the Garage 2 conversion is complete, TMC has 35 machines in operation on campus, and more scheduled to be added as needed. To help educate visitors about the EasyPay system, Texas Medical Center has available, at no charge, instructional cards and a 5-minute video. Anyone interested in these resources should call Texas Medical Center Customer Relations at (713) 791-6161.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/03_01_01/page_04.html