Parking & Transportation Services
Special eUpdate
August 28, 2014

Eligible off-campus graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can now purchase their 2014 Caltrain Go Passes, valid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, for $55. Please note that the Go Pass is NOT valid until Sept. 1. Using it before Sept. 1 will result in citation.

Purchasers can save a lot by buying a Go Pass to enjoy unlimited rides on Caltrain, which travels between San Francisco and Gilroy. Use the dynamic savings calculator to determine your total savings based on your current commute.

The three steps to getting a Go Pass are provided below:

1.  QUALIFY 

Your local address and enrollment status must be reflected in the P&TS customer database, which is updated through Axess. Please allow two to three days for updates to Axess to be reflected at P&TS. Once you complete these steps, if you are eligible, you will be able to purchase the Go Pass.

• Confirm your eligibility by reviewing the Pilot Go Pass eligibility table.
• Enter your current residence address. Passes cannot be purchased unless you have an eligible address designated in the correct field in Axess. Follow the step-by-step instructions.
• Graduate students must enroll in autumn quarter courses for a minimum of six units. Students in TGR status must enroll in the TGR course. Go Passes can only be issued to graduate students who are enrolled for autumn quarter.
• Postdoctoral scholars must be appointed through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
• Not available to spouses or relatives. The Pilot Go Pass is available only to eligible graduate students and postdocs for purchase. They are not transferable to or available for purchase by spouses or relatives of those who are eligible.

2.  PURCHASE

• In person at Parking & Transportation Services, 340 Bonair Siding. (Please note that monthly Caltrain parking permits also can be purchased by Go Pass holders at P&TS.) The following payment methods are available:
  • Postdoctoral scholars can use a credit or debit card, cash, or check.
  • Graduate students can use a credit or debit card, cash, check, or charge the pass to their student bill.
• Campus distribution events.  We are scheduling campus distribution events in September. Payment must be made online in advance when picking up the pass at an event. Online purchasing is coming soon. Graduate students have the option of using student billing as their payment method at distribution events. Check the Pilot Go Pass website for more information.

3.  PICK UP  

Go Passes are a non-transferable sticker. Passes must be picked up in person and will be affixed immediately to your valid Stanford ID. Passes cannot be sent by mail, nor can anyone else pick up your pass for you.

• Pick up in person at Parking & Transportation Services, 340 Bonair Siding. Passes purchased at P&TS will be affixed immediately to your ID.
• Pick up at distribution events in September.  P&TS is offering campus distribution events, which require ordering in advance online. Online ordering for the Pilot Go Pass is coming soon.  Distribution events are scheduled for the following dates:
  • Postdoctoral scholars: Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Postdoc Mixer, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., MSOB lawn.
  • Graduate students: Friday, Sept. 19, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Green Library, ground floor.

If you have questions or need more information, please send an email to pilotgopass@stanford.edu or visit pilotgopass.stanford.edu.

Want to help? Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can earn $15 per hour assisting with Pilot Go Pass distribution events. Interested candidates should contact Rachel Mattenberger at rmaiss@stanford.edu or 650.721.3056.

It’s time to apply for 2014-15 parking permits. Current parking permits expire on Aug. 31. Permit holders need to display new parking permits as of Sept. 1, 2014 (2014-15 permit rates).

Before you purchase a parking permit, consider the Commute Club (If you are a commuting student, please note that you cannot purchase a permit online or in person until our system is updated with your fall registration. Once you are registered, please allow two to three days for changes to be reflected in our system.)

Join the Commute Club or renew your membership

• Receive up to $300 per year in Clean Air Cash or Carpool Credit along with other rewards if you are an eligible commuter who doesn’t drive alone to Stanford’s main campus.
   
• Receive an additional bonus of $100, $75, $50, or $25 by participating in our Permit Non-Renewal Promotion. Current members can receive a bonus of $50 when they refer a friend.
   
• Drive part time. Purchase daily scratcher permits for days you need to drive and still remain in the Commute Club. Check out our permit cost savings table if you were to buy eight daily permits per month instead of a long-term permit.

Anticipate that parking is increasingly limited on campus

West campus commuters accustomed to parking in Parking Structure 5 (PS-5) on Stock Farm Road or Parking Structure 1 (PS-1) on Campus Drive and Roth Way may be impacted by parking changes this fall. Increased parking demand may also impact parking around the Oval, Lasuen Street, and Museum Way.

The conversion of up to 200 commuter spaces to visitor parking in PS-1 is expected to make commuter parking even more limited in PS-1, PS-5, and Stock Farm lots.

Alternative parking options for west campus commuters include the Hoover Pavilion Parking Structure 9 (PS-9) and the new Searsville parking lot (at Campus Drive), which is expected to open in September.

Apply online for 2014-15 parking permits or Commute Club

If you need to purchase a parking permit, avoid a trip to our office and the long lines associated with the new academic year. Order online and request "U.S. Mail" delivery (allow 7 to 10 days). If you select "pick up," you will be notified when your permit is available (usually within 3 to 5 days). 

Temporary parking permits are available for online orders for long-term permits between Aug. 28 and Sept. 8. The temporary permit option is available only for long-term (academic and annual) parking permit orders that are placed online between Thursday, Aug. 28, and Monday, Sept. 8.

• Print a temporary permit. If you place an order online for a long-term parking permit between Aug. 28 and Sept. 8, you will have the option to print and display the “Thank You For Your Order” confirmation web page as your temporary parking permit. Be sure to order from a computer or device that will allow you to print, since the confirmation page cannot be retrieved (or refer to screen shot options for mobile devices).
   
• Temporary permits are valid for 7 to 10 days.
  • If purchased between Aug. 28 and Sept. 5, the temporary permit will be valid for up to 10 days from the purchase date.
  • If purchased between Sept. 6 and Sept. 8, the temporary permit will be valid for up to 7 days from the purchase date.

Online ordering is recommended, but here are all the options to apply:

1.     Order online (recommended)

2.     Fax your application: 650.724.8676

3.     Email your scanned application (Note: Due to widespread Outlook issues we may not receive all emails. If you cannot apply online, you may want to consider faxing your application to 650.724.8676.)

4.     Apply in person or by mail: 340 Bonair Siding (Mail Code 7255), Stanford, CA 94305-7255

Our office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except university holidays. For more information, contact us at 650.723.9362 or transportation@stanford.edu.

Stanford’s first intersection conversion to a single-lane roundabout is currently under construction at Escondido Road and Campus Drive and is expected to be completed in September.

This new roundabout will enable more efficient vehicular circulation and reduce confusion for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.  Instead of requiring vehicles to come to a complete stop and determine who has the right of way, vehicles and bicycles should now be able to flow in a slow but continuous and safe manner to their destinations.

Details on how to navigate a roundabout are provided below for each specific mode. Please be aware that bicycles and vehicles will share the road in the roundabout.

Vehicles:

• Slow when approaching.
• Look for and yield to pedestrians crossing before you reach the roundabout.
• Yield to traffic in the roundabout, including bicyclists: 
  • If clear, enter slowly without stopping.
  • If there are oncoming cyclists or vehicles in the roundabout, slow or stop until it’s clear to enter.
• Proceed slowly and with caution when safe.

Cyclists:

• Ride in the roundabout as a vehicle.
  • Look for and yield to pedestrians crossing before you reach the roundabout
  • Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout.
• Alternatively, walk your bike (never ride) in the crosswalk.

Pedestrians:

• Cross only at crosswalks.
• Watch for vehicles and bicyclists.
• Refrain from distractions, such as texting, when crossing.
• Proceed only when traffic is clear or stopped.

Refer to our “How to navigate a roundabout” web page for more information. 

The following changes took effect on Aug. 25:

• Line HD increased service frequency to every 10 minutes between 4:20 a.m. and 7:50 p.m.
• Line MC added a stop at Roth Way and Quarry Extension, with service at 12:17 a.m. and 12:27 a.m. and direct service to Quarry Road at Palo Road.

Beginning Sept. 2, the following changes will be implemented.

• Route Replacement
  • Line V: The Line V will no longer be in service due to low ridership and the withdrawal of partner funding. It will be replaced by the new VA Tram service delivering convenient transportation for patients and others traveling directly between Stanford Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto.
    
    Commuters who currently use the Line V to travel between California Avenue and campus can take the Line RP from California Avenue at El Camino Real to the Palo Alto Transit Center, then transfer to Lines MC, P, X, or Y to arrive at their campus destination.
    
    Biking or walking could also be a good alternative for those commuting from the vicinity of California Avenue. Check out sample bike routes from local Caltrain stations to campus. The California Avenue to Serra Mall route is a 10-minute ride. Send an email to bike-information@stanford.edu for more details and bicycling assistance.

• Route Adjustments
  • Line BOH: Evening express buses departing at 4:31 p.m., 5:02 p.m., and 5:31 p.m. from 4100/4700 Bohannon to the Menlo Park Caltrain station will detour via Marsh Road instead of Bay Road to provide faster and more reliable service. Detoured express buses will not serve stops at Flood Park or Ringwood Avenue at Middlefield Road.

• Schedule Adjustments
  • Ardenwood Express: The Ardenwood Express will provide service to campus approximately 15 to 30 minutes before the arrival of most AC Transit Line U scheduled trips. This schedule adjustment improves the frequency of service between the Ardenwood Park & Ride and campus.
  • Line P: The schedule will be expanded to improve midday service to the Oval, the Medical Center, and the Palo Alto Transit Center. Between 1:40 p.m. and 3:50 p.m., service frequency will be every 10 minutes.
  • Line RP: Morning and evening service will stop at El Camino Real at California Avenue and the Palo Alto Transit Center in both directions, providing “reverse commute” access to California Avenue and the Research Park.

Beginning Sept. 13, the following routes will resume service.

• Line N: Service will be extended to 2:18 a.m. with the last departure at 1:51 a.m. from Lytton Plaza, Palo Alto.
• Line O: Service will be extended to 2:30 a.m. with the last departure at 2:11 a.m. from Lytton Plaza, Palo Alto.
• Line SE: Regular weekday and weekend schedule will resume.
• Line OCA: Regular weekday and weekend schedule will resume.

The following route adjustments will take place in mid-September.

• Lines 1050A, N, O, OCA, SE, and SLAC: New bus stops will be added at Campus Drive at Searsville Road to serve the new Searsville parking lot, which is expected to open in mid-September.

Schedules will be updated on the Marguerite website as changes occur. To align Marguerite schedules with upcoming Caltrain schedule changes, printed schedules have been postponed. New printed Marguerite schedules are expected to be available on all buses and at Parking & Transportation Services in late September.

If you need assistance, please contact marguerite@stanford.edu or 650.724.9339.

Marguerite and other transit service: Marguerite service, including Ardenwood Express, will be suspended on Monday, Sept. 1, except the following lines.

Operating Monday, Sept. 1:

• Line H
• Line HD
• Medical Center (MC)
• Medical Center: Holiday (MC-H)
• Shopping Express: Special (SE)

The AC Transit Line U, Dumbarton Express, and ACE Rail will not operate on Sept. 1. The following transit agencies will operate on Sunday schedules (visit 511.org for a full list of agency schedules):

• BART
• Caltrain
• Muni
• SamTrans
• VTA

Limited parking enforcement: During the Labor Day holiday, Sept. 1, unless otherwise posted, parking permit enforcement will be suspended in all ‘C’ parking lots (including shared commuter/residential lots), most visitor spaces, and in most ‘A’ lots, with the exception of parking facilities serving the hospitals and School of Medicine. 

‘A’ parking spaces, visitor spaces, Service/University Vehicle spaces, and timed loading zones/spaces will be enforced in the following parking areas on Labor Day:

• L-2 (Quarry Lot)
• L-3 (Quarry South Lot)
• L-9 (Quarry Extension Lot)
• L-15 (Beckman/LKSC Visitor Lot)
• L-16 (MSOB Lot)
• L-18 (Stock Farm North Lot)
• Parking Structure 1 (Campus Drive and Roth Way)

Parking restrictions in residential lots (except shared lots) and special zones, such as disabled parking, red zones, fire lanes, and ‘Special Permit Only’ spaces, will be enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please refer to our Parking and Circulation Map (PDF) for parking locations and designations.

P&TS will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1, for the Labor Day holiday. If you have questions, please contact us before 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 or contact the appropriate transit agency directly.