UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Transportation Services will introduce hourly visitor parking at the Eisenhower Parking Deck this summer as part of a broader project to modernize access and parking operations at the facility.
The addition of hourly parking is intended to better serve campus visitors who need short-term parking near central academic, administrative and residence hall destinations. To support this change, new parking access equipment will be installed throughout the deck during the summer months, aligning Eisenhower Deck with other parking decks on campus to provide a more consistent parking experience and set of options for visitors and permit holders alike.
As part of this transition, the existing HONK zone at Eisenhower Deck will be discontinued. In addition, because the Tempo daily parking reservation program does not currently operate with gated parking systems, daily reservations will no longer be available at the deck beginning sometime this summer. Transportation Services will explore alternative options in central campus to continue offering daily reservation parking where possible.
Modernizing access to support mixed use
The project will update how vehicles enter and exit the deck, enabling Transportation Services to manage both permit parking and hourly visitor parking more effectively within the same facility. As part of the work, a third entry lane will be added, and the middle exit lane will be reopened to help improve overall vehicle flow into and out of the deck.
Once complete, the updated system will allow visitor parking transactions to occur without interfering with permit holder access. Permit holders will continue to have access to the deck, though how that access works will change. After construction is complete, permit holder entry will be managed primarily through license plate recognition, with an employee's Penn State ID serving as a backup credential.
Full details about the post-construction access process, including any steps permit holders may need to take in advance, will be shared closer to the project’s completion.
Summer construction expected
Installation of the new equipment and related construction activities will take place throughout the summer. While efforts will be made to minimize disruption, drivers may experience temporary changes to traffic flow, lane configurations, or pedestrian routes within the deck while work is underway.
Transportation Services will communicate construction-related impacts as they arise and provide advance notice whenever possible.
Ongoing updates planned
As the project progresses, Transportation Services will share updates with permit holders and campus users regarding construction timing, temporary access changes, and what to expect when hourly visitor parking becomes available. An FAQs section for the project is available at the Gated Parking Decks | Transportation webpage.
The addition of hourly parking at Eisenhower Deck reflects a growing need for short-term visitor parking options on campus while maintaining permit access for employees.
More information, including detailed instructions for permit holders, will be provided later this summer. For questions, email parking@psu.edu or call 814-865-1436.