Parking and Transportation Services
340 Bonair Siding #7255
723-9362
http://transportation.stanford.edu
Parking and Transportation Services offers a variety of parking options and alternative transportation programs, services and incentives designed to balance the needs and requirements of all the members of the campus community.
There are a variety of permits and parking options designed for those who drive to campus occasionally, daily and for campus residents. There are also many options for those who choose to commute to campus other than as a solo driver, including riding a bicycle, taking transit, walking or ridesharing.
Parking Program
Parking and Transportation Services offers daily, monthly, yearly, commuter, residential and special-event parking permits for sale. Stanford affiliation is required to purchase long-term permits (30+ days) and 'A' or 'C' daily permits ("scratchers"). In addition to permit sales, parking services is also responsible for signage related to parking lots, campus maps, regularly assessing demand patterns and reallocating space based on the needs of the community.
Resident Student Permits
Students who live on campus can buy permits for their designated house or dorm areas, but are NOT allowed to purchase 'A,' 'C' or 'Z' commuter permits. Resident student parking is divided into the following areas: West, South, East, SJ, and Escondido Village. Each permit is valid only in its area.
Motorcycles
Motorcycles may be parked in a full space if an appropriate permit is displayed. There are also Motorcycle/Scooter permits, which are good only in "Cycle Permit Only" spaces. A resident is only allowed to keep one motorized vehicle on campus unless they live in couples housing. A single resident may not have both a motorcycle and a car on campus.
To drive or not to drive . .
Many single Stanford graduate students manage very well without a car. This may partly be due to the topography and mild weather, making the area easily accessible and enjoyable by bicycle; to public transportation, which is comparatively convenient and affordable; and because others who do own cars are willing to provide rides. For most students, not owning a car is probably the most obvious and important way to contain costs. The campus shuttle (Marguerite) serves most campus destinations, as well as local grocery stores, transit centers and downtown Palo Alto. Taxicab service is also available around the clock; check the Yellow Pages for companies. For occasional weekend trips, many students can save money by renting a car from Enterprise Rent-a-Car, which is on campus, or from another local car rental agency.
Marguerite Shuttle
Stanford operates the Marguerite Shuttle, one of the most extensive private shuttle systems in the Bay Area. The Marguerite operates intercampus buses, as well as serving the University and California Avenue Caltrain stations, Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford Medical Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and downtown Palo Alto. Schedules and route maps are available on board, at the Parking and Transportation Services' office and on the website (http://transportation.stanford.edu).
The Marguerite runs weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a direct connection all day from Escondido Village to the Main Quad and Medical Center, downtown Palo Alto, and the Palo Alto and the California Avenue train stations. Commuters parking in the "C" lot near Serra and Campus Drive East can easily shuttle to other locations on campus; C-Line shuttles also serve specific parking lots near Stanford Stadium and the Medical School Office Building. Marguerite also runs to the Stanford Shopping Center and the Stanford Linear Accelerator, among other destinations; see the website for a complete route map.
The Marguerite Midnight Express operates seven nights a week during the academic year (September - June). Midnight Express buses start running at 8 p.m. The shuttle runs until midnight Sunday through Thursday, and until 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The last bus leaves the Palo Alto Caltrain station Friday and Saturday nights at 2:03 a.m.
The Shopping Express operates from noon to about 9:30 p.m. on weekends during the academic year (September - June). It serves the residential areas of the University, the Medical Center, Stanford Shopping Center, and the San Antonio Shopping Center (which includes several grocery stores) in Mountain View. Busses run every 45 minutes.
"Real time" Marguerite Shuttle information is available via a global positioning system that tracks buses as they move around campus. By going to the interactive map and clicking on a particular stop, passengers know in real-time when the next three buses will be leaving that stop. The new real-time transit information system allows passengers to efficiently and confidently plan their transit ride in advance. This information is also available for PDA and low bandwidth users as well. For all the details, go to http://transportation.stanford.edu and click on the "Marguerite Real-Time Schedule & Interactive Shuttle Map" link.
Alternative Transportation
Stanford is committed to offering a comprehensive alternative transportation program as part of an effort to ease parking pressure and minimize traffic congestion (which dramatically impacts our campus and surrounding communities). Significant contributions to this effort can be made by utilizing at least one of the many forms of efficient, cost-effective alternatives to driving alone.
As part of this ongoing effort, Parking and Transportation Services provides, in addition to our free Marguerite shuttle, other programs, incentives and services, including the Clean Air Cash/Commute Club membership, extensive alternative transportation options, bicycle programs, an in-house charter bus program and an online ordering process. Some of these are described below.
Clean Air Credit Program
The Stanford Commute Club provides an opportunity for commuting Stanford faculty, staff and students to reap the benefits of utilizing alternative transportation, which may include commute cost, timesavings and contributing to a cleaner environment. The Commute Club offers year-round open enrollment. Members receive up to $160 a year in Clean Air Cash or carpool incentives, a membership mug and pin, invitations to members' only events and opportunities to win prizes for participation.
Eligibility for Clean Air Cash/Commute Club membership is established by meeting ALL of the following criteria:
- You live outside the Stanford Parking Permit system
- You are a registered student or you're required to be on campus during business hours at least half time for at least three consecutive months
- You would normally be required by Parking and Transportation Services to display a parking permit in your vehicle at your principal place of work or study
- You agree NOT to buy a parking permit (carpool permit excepted).
A student with on-campus housing cannot apply for Clean Air Cash or Commute Club membership.
Bicycling
Bicycling is ideally suited to Stanford's mild climate, flat terrain and gentle, rolling hills. It's a quiet, affordable, and healthy way to get around. Riding a bike is also an antidote to traffic congestion, noise and air pollution. Besides riding for pure enjoyment, a growing number of people are choosing to commute on non-motorized wheels for convenience and fitness. Stanford has a full-time Bicycle Program Coordinator offering services that include an extensive bicycle safety program, bike registration (required), clothing locker rentals, bike storage rentals, commute planning and general cycling information.
Be aware that bicyclists must follow all traffic regulations, and are encouraged to wear a helmet whenever riding. A bicycle light is required whenever riding at night. Campus police officers can, and will, ticket cyclists who break the law.
The Campus Bike Shop (located at Tresidder Union) sells new and used bikes and has a repair service. Other bicycle sales and repair shops can be found on El Camino Real near campus, and on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto; several shops have coupons at the Parking and Transportation Services office and in the Stanford Directory. Used bikes are advertised in newspapers, on the bulletin boards at Tressider Union and Bechtel International Center, and online at su.market.
Public Transit
Stanford is served by public transit, including Caltrain and bus service from Valley Transit Authority (VTA) and SamTrans. Monthly passes for these transit agencies are available for sale in the Parking and Transportation Services office at 340 Bonair Siding.
The San Francisco Bay Area Transit Information website at http://www.511.org has detailed route maps and schedules for these and other public transit options, including trans-bay ferries and intra-city shuttles.
Valley Transit Authority (VTA) runs buses to Palo Alto and most points south of Stanford. VTA also operates a light-rail line serving San Jose and the surrounding communities. All VTA buses have front-mounted bike racks. Lines of particular interest to Stanford include:
The 300, which goes from the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center on El Camino to East San Jose. It is a semi-express bus, skipping most stops, and runs about every 20 minutes. Take the Marguerite (Lines A, B or Palm Drive Express) to the Palo Alto Caltrain station to connect. The 22, which makes all stops along El Camino between the Menlo Park Caltrain station and the Eastridge Shopping Center in San Jose. It runs 24 hours a day, with arrivals about every ten minutes during the midday. The 35, which goes from the Medical Center and Stanford Shopping Center through downtown Palo Alto to the San Antonio Shopping Center and the downtown Mountain View Transit Center (where it connects with the light-rail system). Express 102 operates from the Palo Alto terminal at Page Mill to the Santa Teresa Light-Rail Station (South San Jose). This express runs during commute hours Monday through Friday, with very limited stops.
SamTrans runs buses to most points north of Stanford, including East Palo Alto. Lines of particular interest to Stanford include:
Express Route KX, from Stanford Shopping Center to San Francisco International Airport or San Francisco. (NOTE: SamTrans is unable to allow excess luggage to be carried on Route KX between San Francisco and the San Francisco International Airport in either direction. See http://www.samtrans.com/luggage.html for details.) Express Route RX - Stanford Shopping Center to San Francisco TransBay Terminal. Route 397 - Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center to the San Francisco TransBay Terminal. Route 390, which makes all stops on El Camino from the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center, including Millbrae Intermodal Terminal, South San Francisco BART, and to the Daly City BART station. Routes 280 and 281 provide service to East Palo Alto and Menlo Park from the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center and the Stanford Shopping Center. Route 295, runs from the Menlo Park Caltrain station to Sharon Heights and San Mateo Caltrain station. The Dumbarton Express runs weekdays between the Union City BART station (across the Dumbarton Bridge) and the Palo Alto Caltrain station, where you can connect with the Marguerite. Alternatively, take your bicycle on the Dumbarton Express - each bus has a bike rack that can accommodate 2 bicycles. This is a great service for many East Bay commuters. The "U" Express Line runs weekdays with three scheduled trips in both directions during the morning and afternoon commute period. This bus line provides service between the Fremont BART station and Stanford Campus. Between the two terminals, Line U will serve the ACE Train/Amtrak station, Ardenwood Park and Ride in the East Bay, Stanford Hospital and the Stanford Shopping Center. When construction on the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center is completed in the spring of 2005, the bus will bypass the shopping center and go from the hospital directly to the Caltrain station.
Carpooling/Ride Matching
Share the commute with one or more eligible Stanford affiliates, and up to $160.00 per person, per year (less the driver) can be applied toward the cost of a permit. This would mean that a two-person carpool (the driver and one passenger) could receive a FREE "C" carpool permit. To be eligible for a Stanford carpool each member must 1) live outside the Stanford Parking Permit system, 2) be on campus during business hours at least half-time for three consecutive months or more, and 3) work or study in a location where a parking permit is required.
Parking and Transportation Services provides a free, automated and secure ride matching service for Stanford affiliates. The data base allows you to search for others at Stanford who want to share a commute.
Vanpooling
Want a van ride direct from your neighborhood to Stanford? Join a vanpool! They're currently up and running from Berkeley, Modesto, Newark, Oakland, San Francisco, San Francisco - Sunset, Santa Cruz, Stockton, and Tracy. A commuter vanpool is a group of seven to fifteen people who ride to and from work each day in a comfortable passenger van. Vanpooling generally costs about the same each month as you now pay for gasoline alone. Arrive at class relaxed and refreshed, and save wear and tear on your car, too. You can ride most vanpools on a full-time or occasional basis, whichever fits your schedule. Full-time passengers have reserved seats and ride on a month-to-month basis. Occasional passengers ride on a space-available basis and pay a set fee per trip.
On-Campus Car Rental Program
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, one of the nation's largest rental car services, offers Stanford students, staff and faculty a discount off normal rental car rates, as well as special promotional deals set up around the University's academic calendar.
Enterprise will allow rentals to students between the ages of 18 and 21 - an age group normally denied the privilege because of its high insurance risk. Enterprise will allow rentals to students 18 and over if they provide a Stanford ID, proof of full insurance coverage and a credit card in their own name. The local phone number is (650) 321-0110. Car rentals are available for a minimum half-day period, and will be dispatched directly to student dorms.
Guaranteed Ride Home
Students who commute without their car may register with Stanford's Guaranteed Ride Home program. Once you are registered, the program guarantees a free ride home in a taxi or rental car if you are stranded on campus without other means to return home safely (up to four times per academic year). More details are available at http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/Guaranteed.shtml. Call 723-9362 to register or to request a ride.
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