New Parking Garage System- FAQ’S

Why is the City replacing the parking garage equipment?
How does the new system work?
Which parking garages will be affected by the new system?
What if I lose my Parking Token?
Can I have my Parking Token validated?
How does the new validation system work?
How will the new system work during special events at the Lesher Center?
What if I need help?
Will the garage rates and operating hours change?

General Info:

Parking Fees
Special Event Parking
Parking Validation
How will I know if a business offers validation?

Q: Why is the City replacing the parking garage equipment?
A: The current parking equipment is nearly two decades old and in poor condition. Frequent equipment failures have made it difficult to provide consistent and reliable parking services. The new parking system will provide fast and convenient use of the parking garages. In addition, the new system will significantly reduce the City’s operating costs; saving the city more than $1 million over the next ten years.
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Q: How does the new system work?
A: With the new pay-on-foot parking system, using the City’s garages has never been easier! The new parking system will provide three speedy payment options:

1. Parking Token In & Parking Token Out
   Users will be issued a Parking Token upon entering the garage. The Parking Token is a reusable plastic coin which is embedded with a micro-chip to track the user’s parking time and validations. This option allows users to pay for their parking via credit card or cash.
   Follow these simple steps:
   
   
   1. Receive a Parking Token upon entering the garage.
   2. Drop the Token in your pocket or purse.
   3. Get your Token validated as you shop and dine downtown.
   4. Before returning to your car, drop the Token in a Paystation for quick payment.
   5. Drop the Token in the machine as you exit the garage in your vehicle.
      
      
2. Token In & Credit Card out
   
   
   1. Receive a Parking Token upon entering the garage.
   2. Drop the Token in your pocket or purse.
   3. Get your Token validated as you shop and dine downtown.
   4. Insert Parking Token at exit gate.
   5. Insert credit card at the exit gate for payment.
      
      
3. Credit Card In & Credit Card Out*
   
   
   1. Insert Credit Card at entry gate.
   2. Insert the same Credit Card at exit gate.

*No Parking Token is issued; parking time is tracked via Credit Card. Validation is not available with this method.
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Q: Which parking garages will be affected by the new system?
A: There are three city-owned garages that will be upgrading to the new parking token system.

1. The North Locust Parking Garage
2. The South Locust Parking Garage
3. The Broadway Parking Garage

Please refer to the parking map to view the location of these city-owned garages
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Q: What if I lose my Parking Token?
A: It will inevitably happen. If you misplace your Parking Token, you can simply press the “Lost Token” button on the paystation and you will be charged the daily max. The paystation will then issue you a new Parking Token to use when exiting the garage.
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Q: Can I have my Parking Token validated?
A: Yes! Participating downtown businesses will have validators that can validate your Parking Token. Just be sure to ask for validation!
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Q: How does the new validation system work?
A: The City will no longer issue sticker validation stamps. With the new parking system, participating businesses will have handheld validation units, which directly encode the Token with the validation discount. No need for validation stickers or coupons.

Downtown shoppers can receive up to 2-hours of free parking per visit at one of the City-owned parking garages.

Downtown businesses interested in participating in the program should visit the Business License Counter, located on the 3rd floor of City Hall (at 1666 North Main Street). Businesses will be asked to provide a small deposit for the new handheld validator and will be billed monthly for any validations issued.

For more information on the City’s Validation Program, please contact Matt Huffaker, Business Manager, at 925-256-3580. (back to top)

Q: How will the new system work during special events at the Lesher Center?
A: The North Locust Garage will continue to use Special Event Staffing during large events at the Lesher Center. During special events, garage users should expect to pay the standard $5.00 Special Event Fee upon entering the garage. The North Locust garage is open to all users (hourly parkers and Lesher patrons) during special events.
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Q: What if I need help?
A: Customer Service Personnel will be happy to assist you. Simply push the intercom button on any entrance, exit, or paystation machine and someone will promptly respond to your call.

Additionally, while the City transitions to the new system, garage staff will be on-hand to assist the public with questions related to system operation.
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Q: Will the garage rates and operating hours change?
A: Since the new parking system is fully-automated and does not require a cashier booth or an attendant to process payments, the garages will shift to a 24-hour operation. All existing parking rates will remain in effect and are outlined below:

Parking Fees
Per Hour Fee:
Lost Token:
Special Event (Matinee):
Special Event (Evening): $.50
$12.00
$3.00
$5.00 (back to top)
Special Event Parking
Prepay procedures are used at the Locust Street Garage for evening events at the Lesher Center. Five dollars is collected from each vehicle entering the garage after 6:00 PM in order to expedite the large number of vehicles leaving the garage after the event or performance. Vehicles exit the garage onto heavily-traveled California Blvd.; therefore those parked on upper floors of the garage may sometimes experience a delay in exiting. Garage users can help speed the process by having their tickets and money ready before they reach the booth, and, especially, by exiting into the right turn lane and going around the block on Civic to reach the North- and Southbound lanes of California Blvd., rather than waiting for traffic to allow them to reach their desired lane.
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Parking Validation
Many businesses in downtown Walnut Creek validate parking in the City Garages. With the new parking system, participating businesses will have handheld validation units, which directly encode your parking Token with the validation discount. When parking in a City-owned garage, shoppers can park for free by asking for validation from participating businesses. No need for validation stickers or coupons!
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How will I know if a business offers validation?
Just look for the window decal that says “ENJOY we validate!” Below is a list of businesses in Downtown Walnut Creek that currently offer hourly customer validation.

Absolute Salon
Angel Nicole Streeter
Broadway Eye Works
Changes Salon & Day Spa
Cheap Petes Frame Factory Outlet
Da Lat Vietnamese Cuisine
Darlas Hair Designing
Delicate Nails & Spa
Dr Carl Hirsch
Froma Gym
Hair Designs by Kymber
House of Beads
J M Bender Massage Therapy Center
Kimberly Madrazo
Kitchen Table
La Fogata
Lark Creek Café
Le Bistro
Le Cheval
Maria Maria La Cantina
Massage Holiday
Massimos
Mika Specialty Salon Inc
Nay Albertson
Naz Hazrati
Peets Coffee & Tea
Prima
Rainbows End Thrift Shop
Soft Touch
Styles
The Grateful Head
The Mystic Dream
The Olde San Francisco Creamery
The Yoga & Movement Center
Thirteen Ensemble LLC
US Bank
Veronica Contreras
Walnut Creek Taqueria
Walnut Creek Yacht Club
Wig Works
Zebra Inc

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