Validations and Reservations

Validations

Validations can be used by departments to pay for visitor's parking.

Authorized University personnel use the J4M website or app (called Janus for Merchants) to issue validations, monitor use, and create reports of activities and charges. Actual charges to University departments will go through EFS and monthly charges will be visible on eStatement.

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Get access

A department wishing to issue validations needs a Shop and a J4M Merchant account configured by PTS.

Become a merchant or add a shop

User types

Shops

A Shop is the EFS chartstring to be charged for parking. Each EFS chartstring to receive charges requires a separate Shop configured by PTS. Each Shop is managed by one Merchant.

Merchants

Each Shop is managed by one Merchant, but a single Merchant can manage more than one Shop. PTS recommends a Shop’s Merchant be an employee with knowledge of the UMN's Chart of Accounts. The Merchant is responsible for all Shop activity and charges.

Clerks

Merchants can create Clerk accounts and limit their authority. With Merchant authorization, Clerks can apply validations and report on their own activity.

Validations vs. Vouchers

Validations

Validations are the best way to pay for a guest's parking when that person has already arrived on campus, parked, and will see a person from the department wishing to pay for the parking fees.

Vouchers

Vouchers are ideal when a department wants to send out something that their visitors can print out or show a QR code on a phone as they exit. This is used frequently when departments will not see the person (ie: evening visits, etc.). 

Fill out the Voucher Request Form to set up vouchers in your Merchant's J4M account.

Clerks are not given access to vouchers.

Voucher request form

Payment options

Rates at many facilities change during evenings, weekends, and early-morning hours. See the rates page for details.

TypeParker PaysDepartment Pays
Fullnothing100%
Daily Maxany cost over daily maxup to $15 (highest daily max)
Half Dayany cost over $9up to $9 (~4hr of parking)
First Hourany cost over $3up to $3 (~1hr of parking)

Validations introduction video


Reservations

Departments can reserve a parking spot for guests in advance in certain parking facilities.

Department responsibilities

  • Make a reservation before 4:30 pm, at least one business day in advance.
    • Meters require a five business day notice.
  • Specify the date, time, and number of guests.
  • Fees will be charged to your department's EFS account.
  • Inform guests on how to use reservations

How guests will use reservations

Entering with your reservation

  • If your facility reads “Space Available” 
    • Use the touchscreen to pull a ticket at the entry 
  • If your facility reads “Reservation Only” or a fee is displayed on the screen 
    • Press the intercom button, labeled “press for help” or talk to an attendant for assistance 

Exiting with your reservation

  • Press the intercom button, labeled “press for help,” or talk to an attendant for assistance

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Eligible locations

East Bank

  • Church Street Garage
  • East River Road Garage (East River Parkway entrance only)
  • University Avenue Ramp 
  • Washington Avenue Ramp 

St. Paul

  • Lot 103
  • Lot 104

Reservations terms and conditions

  • A parking space will be held for a maximum of one hour after the scheduled arrival time.
  • Reservation parking does not allow in-and-out privileges.
  • An administrative fee of $1 per space reserved will be charged in addition to the facility fee 
  • The facility fee is $3 per hour for the first 3 hours and $1 per hour after that to a maximum of $15.
  • Billing will be based on the number of spaces reserved at the hourly rate. This fee will be adjusted if the actual number of vehicles parked exceeds the reservation.
  • PTS is not responsible for any abuse, misuse, or fraudulent charges to the reservation system. Please keep your reservation confidential and inform only the individuals intending to park under the reservation.
  • Rates are subject to change annually on July 1.
  • All department reservations are for University department use and therefore exempt from Minnesota sales tax. If a department resells or charges parking fees to individuals or groups then that department is responsible for collecting and paying the appropriate sales tax to the state of Minnesota and, if applicable, the presiding city. Sales taxes imposed on these sales can be waived by the department if the department obtains a correctly completed exemption certificate (MN ST3 Form) from the purchaser of the parking.