ASU began offering valet services last week aimed at community members looking for parking during local events in a partnership with American Valet.
The service is geared toward helping community members attending ASU or local events find parking, but students and faculty can use it as well, said Melinda Alonzo-Helton, ASU Parking and Transit Services director. The service will be offered both downtown and in Tempe.
Individuals and event holders with the university and community suggested visitor parking and a valet service was a concept that developed, said Aaron Bryant, PTS communications manager.
Valets will park students and faculty vehicles closer to the entrance to quicken the process and it also gives visitors comfort knowing they will not forget where their vehicle is parked, Bryant said.
American Valet and PTS began full operation at the two campuses a week before the fall semester. The service was temporarily free during trial runs to figure out the necessities like the number of valets and the locations, Bryant said.
“The addition of the valet parking service will certainly be seen by some as an added benefit and that is the purpose of it,” he said. “We are just adding an additional service for those who wish to take advantage of it.”
The entrance to the valet parking is located in the University Center garage on East Polk Street, Bryant said.
Valet parking will be available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will cost $5 for one hour, $15 for up to four hours and $20 for time beyond that, PTS communications specialist Shereen Shaw said via email.
Anyone with an ASU parking permit still has to pay for the valet service if they wish to use it, Bryant said.
PTS wants American Valet’s staff to know every building’s name and location to help visitors with directions, Alonzo-Helton said.
The Downtown campus should have at least 10 valets, said Kelly Buckley, executive vice president of administration for American Valet.
“We take our training very seriously. Obviously, taking possession of someone’s vehicle is, in many cases, it’s their most valuable possession monetarily, other than their house possibly,” Buckley said.
There is no expected increase in student fees for this service.
“There is no operational cost to the university,” Bryant said. “A bid went out, people responded to that, a contractor was selected and there is no cost to the university to provide this service; no up-front cost.”
The profit from the valet services will be divided between ASU and American Valet, but Bryant was unable to say if the distribution will be equal.
Contact the reporter at malecka@asu.edu
