ASU Parking and Transit Services named Organization of the Year at international conference

Arizona State University Parking and Transit Services (PTS) once again received international recognition, besting parking departments from municipalities, airports and other universities.

The International Parking Institute named PTS the 2017 Parking Organization of the Year and PTS assistant director JC Porter the 2017 Emerging Leader of the Year. IPI is the world’s largest association of professionals in parking.

"PTS is a customer-focused organization that delivers leading-edge technology to our Sun Devils and surrounding community,” said Nichol Luoma, associate vice president of University Business Services. “They are most deserving of this high honor.”

An improved customer experience

In August 2016, PTS installed a new parking access and payment system at all campus parking garages and in several parking lots. These upgrades expanded pay-as-you-go parking options to students and employees.

“Our dedicated team works hard to provide service and access to ASU,” said Melinda Alonzo, PTS director. “Our team strives for continued innovation and excellence to support our campus community.”

PTS supports the community through the Benefactor Program, donating a portion of parking revenue each year to a different ASU department or student-run organization, to enhance social embeddedness.

A leader emerges

Porter arrived at ASU in 2014 and made an immediate impact on the university’s bike program. Campus bike resources now include three bike valet stations, five card-access bike parking locations and a more accurate bicycle registration process. Bike priority areas, shared lane markings at signaled intersections and a College Avenue contra-flow lane make biking safer and more convenient.

For Porter, bicycling is personal. He commutes by bike to work each day — a 40-mile round trip.

“When JC joined our team, we knew he’d quickly become an asset to the department and university,” Alonzo said. “With the many achievements JC has made, including establishing ASU’s bike program, successful oversight of the Walk-Only Zones program and his overall leadership in just three short years, he is truly deserving of this recognition.”

Porter also introduced these improvements:

• a new intercampus shuttle provider offers double-decker buses, Wi-Fi, GPS tracking, electrical outlets and USB ports
• the new car-share company lowered the student hourly rate and allowed international students to use their home country driver’s licenses
• the PTS appeals office reorganized to include a peer-to-peer experience with student staff

“I am honored to receive this award, but I could not have done it without the ASU team helping me along the way,” Porter said. “I would like to thank my director for allowing me to try new ideas, making our team the most innovative PTS department.”

The awards come on the heels of PTS earning the ASU President’s Award for Sustainability in April for its bikeASU program.

PTS administers parking and transportation options to assist more than 90,000 students and 12,000 employees in their travels to, from and between ASU’s campuses. It manages about 25,000 parking spaces and an alternative transportation program comprised of intercampus shuttles, car-sharing, bicycle infrastructure and resources and partnerships with public bus and light rail providers.