When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Roswell Park to halt its valet service last spring, the Parking and Transportation team immediately began developing a plan to start it up again — safely. Now it’s back, with new procedures designed to protect customers and valets from the coronavirus and deliver vehicles more efficiently.
Before entering your car, the valet — wearing a mask and gloves — puts disposable plastic covers over the steering wheel and gear shift knob and disinfects the door handles. When returning the car to you, “they do the same thing in reverse,” explains Sharon Rusert, Parking and Transportation Program Manager. The plastic covers are removed at that time, and “anything they touched is cleaned again” before you get into the car.
A tracking system adds a new dimension to the process. Now you can track the status of your car on new screens in the lobby and also sign up to receive a text message when your car is ready for pickup in the traffic circle out front. "It improves the experience by adding convenience and transparency for patients and visitors while they wait for their vehicles," says Meredith Litz, Programmer/Analyst in Roswell Park’s Information Technology Department and designer of the valet web app.
“Previously, customers had to wait until a valet alerted them verbally that their car was ready. That caused congestion in the lobby and at the entrance to the hospital” — a problem that had to be eliminated to ensure social distancing during the pandemic.
How Does the New System Work?
- When you drop off your car, the lead valet puts a ticket on the dashboard and enters the four-digit ticket number into the tracking app.
- When you return later to retrieve the vehicle and pay at the concierge station, the concierge enters the ticket number into the tracking app, which alerts the valets that the car needs to brought over from the parking ramp to the front entrance of the hospital.
- Meanwhile, you can wait comfortably in the hallway between the front entrance of the hospital and the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center. The screens in that area “display the vehicle waiting queue, which allows customers to see immediately when their car is ready for pickup,” says Litz. "Those who prefer more freedom to move about can sign up to receive a text message when the vehicle is ready."
How Much Does the Valet Service Cost?
- For patients and caregivers, the valet service costs $5 (the reduced parking garage rate of $4 plus $1).
- For others, valet service costs $10.
What Are the Hours for Valet Service?
Monday-Friday, 5:45 a.m.-7 p.m. The service is not available on weekends or holidays.
Questions? Ideas? Concerns? Call Parking Operations at 845-1492.