As of Wednesday, March 13, this project has been put on hold due to technical complications. Additional updates will be forthcoming.
During Spring Break, March 11–15, UNM Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) will be updating the credit card readers and associated software in the pay stations located in the Cornell and Yale parking structures.
Throughout the week and until the project work is done, different pay stations will be marked as “temporarily out-of-service” with directions to active pay stations nearby.
Users may be aware that EMV — Europay, Mastercard & Visa — card chips provide an added level of security against fraud, as the chip makes it harder to clone a credit card and to steal personal information, than cards that use the traditional magstripe. Upon completion of the project work, the pay station system will take both EMV chip or magstripe credit cards.
PATS adapts to changing University
PATS accommodates and provides access to the University for a vast amount of daily visitors including students, faculty and staff, and community members—more than 44,000 people on any given day.
In addition to permit parking and shuttle transportation services, PATS also offers special event support services for a variety of departmental events on campus that require special parking or transportation solutions. Think conferences, Popejoy Hall events, job fairs, field trips.
Special event parking services often include the reservation of specific parking areas around campus or special validation parking in the Cornell parking structure. Special event transportation requests, on the other hand, provide a way of transporting large quantities of people via shuttle bus to and from varying locations within a 100-mile radius of the University.
“We receive transportation requests ranging from service to El Malpais National Monument in Grants, to the Dreamstyle Stadium for Lobo Football games,” says Brent Robare, UNM PATS events coordinator.
By this time last year, PATS had serviced approximately 240 special event requests. Although this figure has not significantly changed from last year’s, new changes to the University landscape have affected some of PATS’ special event procedures.
The Johnson Center Expansion and Renovation (JCER) project, namely, has resulted in the reconfiguration of the Cornell parking structure entrance.
“We have monitored the effects of this change, adapted and tweaked our procedures to make this go as smoothly as possible for everyone,” says PATS Operations Manager Christine Evans.
Evident by the 75 traffic cones and four roadblocks now needed to direct visitors in and out of the Cornell parking structure during large special events, PATS has had to rapidly adapt in order to ensure safe and efficient access to the University.
“This new procedure is very labor intensive but works,” says Evans, “We hope to achieve a working balance that is less impactful for both our department and the community.”
To learn more about the special event services offered by PATS or to request services for your department, visit pats.unm.edu
Parking & Transportation Services buys two new shuttles
UNM Parking & Transportation Services (PATS) is expecting to take delivery of two new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) shuttle buses by May 2019.
PATS will replace two of its current shuttles with new 2020 Thomas HDX CNG-fueled models which emit 13 percent less greenhouse gasses than diesel-fueled models. The new 40-foot shuttles will seat up to 39 passengers and will feature ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts.
With approximately 1.6 million annual passenger boardings recorded last year, UNM PATS operates the second largest transportation system in New Mexico after Albuquerque’s public transit system, ABQ Ride. This level of service requires close management of shuttle buses and personnel to ensure safe and dependable service to the UNM community.
PATS currently owns and operates 31 shuttles with varying passenger capacities; all equipped with ADA lifts.
“The 40-foot buses have an average life span of 14 to 15 years depending on mileage, engine hours and long-term maintenance/repair history,” says Director of UNM PATS Barbara Morck.
PATS is 100 percent self-funded and covers its own capital expenditures. Therefore, it must plan well in advance to finance large capital expenditures such as new shuttle buses.
“Shuttle replacements partly depend on availability of PATS’ capital funds,” says PATS Transportation Manager Ken Morris, “We have a continual replacement schedule that dictates when and which department vehicles are due for maintenance or replacement.”