Texas Children’s patients now have access to free parking when visiting the Medical Center Campus. Last month, The Parking & Transportation Committee approved changing the Main Street Lot, located across from Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, from a public parking lot to a no cost, patient only lot.
In addition to patient designated parking in our garages, the Main Street lot will allow restricted access to our patients to improve the overall patient parking experience and meet the current parking demand. Employees should park in their original designated parking assignment.
This new parking strategy began with an update of Texas Children’s patient assistance parking program (PAPP), managed by social work services.
“When a family experiences hardship with parking our team will do a brief assessment,” social work manager, Jackson Huynh said. “If we determine that the family qualifies, the family will be able to use the Main Street lot until they are discharged.”
Benefits of PAPP for families:
- Almost guaranteed an (undesignated) parking spot
- Have in and out privileges
- Can renew vouchers on a weekly basis (Monday-to-Monday)
- Can receive their vouchers via email (e-version)
- Maps of the Main Street lot is included in the voucher
Main Street lot restrictions:
- Families must meet the criteria for parking assistance (social work services assessment based on financial hardship)
- Families must be admitted for seven days or greater to receive the assistance
- Only two caregivers per child can use PAPP, but only one car is permitted to parking in the lot at a time
In addition, LAZ parking now manages the lot along with other parking areas throughout the Texas Medical Center, and sit on the parking and transportation committee.
The amount of families assisted through PAPP has increased by over 500 between 2018 and 2019.
“I am excited to provide no cost parking for our patient families,” assistant director of facilities operations, Michael Jackson said. “We are constantly working towards providing an easy and affordable experience for Texas Children’s families.”