Updated 10/15/09

News

On September 1, 2009, the JJ Pickle Research Campus (PRC) was equipped with entrance and exits gates at Braker Lane and Neils Thompson Dr. There will be no changes to the Burnet Rd entrance and may be entered by anyone with a valid UT permit or by visitors after checking in with the kiosk personal.   

The new gates use AVI technology (Toll Tag Technology). This allows for the gates to open and close via a transponder placed on the windshield instead of a regular swipe or proximity card. The new entrance and exit on Neils Thompson Dr connects to Burnet Rd via Longhorn Blvd.  The intersection of Longhorn Blvd and Burnet Rd is equipped with a traffic light to assist with those vehicles needing to turn left out of the PRC Campus.  The exit gates at the two AVI equipped entries are set on a timer for them to raise between 4 pm and 6 pm to ease egress from the facility.  

Staff or faculty members located at PRC were issued an AVI tag throughout the month of September at either the Commons or the PTS/ UTPD Guard area in Building 19. As of October 2, 2009, we stopped issuing tags via the PTS or UTPD staff at PRC. If you need a tag or have a question about your tag, please send an email request to parking@www.utexas.edu. If a tag has not already been issued, we will issue one to you from the email request and mail the AVI tag  to you via campus mail. You may also opt to register your Toll Tag to be used to gain entry to the PRC campus through these gates by using the same email address. (Using your toll tag will not deduct funds from your account as we are not hooked into the toll tag system. We are just using the number.)

---

The Braker Lane Entrance to the Pickle Research Campus (PRC) will be closed effective Wednesday, July 1, 2009 for installation of new gate equipment. This entrance will remain closed until construction has been completed. We are attempting to have this completed before September 1, 2009.

In order to maintain multiple entrances at PRC, the Neils Thompson Road entrance (aka the south entrance) will be open starting on Wednesday (July 1) morning. The kiosk at this entrance will be staffed by the Braker Lane guard. The Burnet road entrance will be remain unchanged and open as normal.

The new gate equipment has been installed at the Neil Thompson entrance, but has not been put in operation.  More information regarding the gate equipment at PRC will be sent as we get closer to the implementation of the equipment.

---

About

Ground Rules: UT made the decision to put in electronic gates at the Braker Lane and Neils Thompson Drive entrances into the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.

UT employees will be able to enter and exit through any of the three entrances: Braker, Burnet, Neils Thompson.

Visitors will only be able to enter through the Burnet Road entrance although they too can exit through any gate. This includes delivery vehicles such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service. This will allow one point of contact for visitors.

Time Frame: The electronic gates will be installed during the summer and will be operational by the beginning of September 2009. The gate at Neils Thompson Drive entrance will be installed first so it can be used while the second gate is being installed at the Braker Lane entrance.

Why: Installation of electronic gates will allow for more efficient operations and use of resources. UT main campus currently has several garages with electronic gates, and three surface parking lots are being equipped with electronic gates.

How It Works: The electronic gates will use Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) Technology (aka “Toll Tag Technology”. The gate will open automatically when staff vehicles approach the gate.

• The Neils Thompson Drive gate equipment will be installed first.
• For the first few weeks, the Braker gate kiosk will continue to be staffed to assist drivers.
• There will be a turn-around escape lane for those who are not authorized to enter through that gate.
• Signs will be installed on Braker Lane advising visitors to enter through the Burnet Road entrance.
• UT will provide transponders to UT employees, and UT will program toll tags to open PRC gates for those employees who have existing toll tags.
• Transponders are not portable and cannot be moved to another vehicle when your vehicle is in the shop. You will have to use the Burnet Road entrance.
• Pedestrians and bicycles will be able to navigate easily through the gates.
• There will be two entry lanes and two exit lanes at the Braker Lane entrance.
• The exit gates will eventually be programmed to go up at 4:00 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, to allow easy departure for employees. Exit gates will remain open until 6:00 p.m. This will enable a natural queue to flow through the traffic light at the Braker Lane exit.
• All entry after hours and on weekends will be through the Burnet Road entrance.
• Special events, conferences, and exceptional deliveries (such as semi-trucks) must be arranged in advance with Parking and Transportation Services. PTS may staff the Braker Lane kiosk during special events to coordinate traffic flow.

Questions:

Q: Will 'After Hours Authorization' forms still be required?
A: Gates will close automatically at 6:00 p.m. daily. Because PRC is a secure campus, After Hours Authorization forms will still be required. (Added: The call to open or close the campus earlier/later is based on security needs and will be made in conjunction with UTPD.)

Q: What about emergency vehicles?
A: The gate arms are break-away. Emergency vehicles routinely drive right through them when there is an emergency. UT will replace the broken arms broken by emergency vehicles.

Q: What if a visitor turns into the Braker Lane entrance and doesn’t know what to do?
A: There will be a “crown jewel” telephone that the driver can use to call the Burnet Road kiosk for advice and instructions. There will also be signage

Q: Will the main Burnet entrance be moved to the road north of the Commons to facilitate ARL employees arriving at work?
A: ARL employees could use the Neils Thompson entrance or the Braker entrance.

Q: What about UT vehicles?
A: UT vehicles will have transponders. Even the UT Shuttle Buses will have transponders and will be able to enter and exit through the electronic gates. UT Vehicles at PRC will have their transponders issued by the Automotive Shop at PRC starting September 1, 2009.

Q: What about the big chemical delivery trucks?
A: They will come through the Burnet entrance

Q: Why is this necessary?
A: To maintain security and control.

Q: Will there be a charge for the transponders?
A: Transponders will be issued to all current employees at no charge. Future issuance or replacement of transponders may require a fee.

Q: What is the cost for this system?
A: The project will cost PTS $45,000.

Q. What if two wrong people turn into the Braker Lane entrance at the same time?
A: There is sufficient room that they both can turn around although one will have to follow the other through the turn-around.

Q: What if the gate breaks and won’t go up or down and traffic backs up on Braker Lane?
A: Each gate has manual override, and there is a separate system for the gate arm for each lane so an inoperable gate arm will not be a problem. The repair company can be on site quickly to assess and repair the gates as necessary. Two traffic studies have been conducted, and these showed that the electronic gate at the Braker Lane entrance will be fine. Also the City of Austin has approved UT’s plan.

Q: Will there be signs, and if so, what will they say?
A: There will be two signs for the east-bound lanes of Braker Lane and one sign for the west-bound lanes which will read approximately, “Braker Gate PRC Employees Only – Visitors Use Burnet Gate.”
[Update: if more signage is needed, it can be placed on University property. The signs indicated previously are signs on City of Austin Right of Way and are the only ones that they are willing to authorize at this time.]

Q: Will visitors eventually have to pay to park at PRC?
A: Possibly but the issue is not tied to the installation of gate equipment.

Q: What is the gate cycle time?
A: The gate will not close until you drive over a loop installed in the roadway.

Q: How do you keep someone without a tag from “tail-gating” in behind someone who does have a tag?
A: Usually this will not happen because the gates are too quick.

Q: How will the transponders be provided to PRC employees?
A: PTS Staff will be at a table in the Commons on Friday, August 21st; Monday, August 24th; and Tuesday, August 25th from 9 am to 2 pm. We will look you up in the database and if you have a 2009-10 permit, we will issue you one AVI tag.

Q: Can you open the gates during the morning rush and let everyone through?
A: We will analyze traffic patterns and deal with issues as they arise based on the specifics of the situation.

Q: Will a dedicated right-turn lane be installed on Braker Lane for entry into PRC later?
A: Everything between the fence and the street belongs to the City of Austin.

Q: What if you have both a motorcycle and a car - can you get two tags?
A: We will not issue tags for motorcycles because the use of motorcycles and gate equipment is unsafe. Motorcycles will need to enter by the Burnet Road entrance. Transponders cannot be moved between vehicles just like your permit. If you drive a secondary vehicle, you will have to enter the Burnet Road entrance using your parking permit.

Q: What about students?
A: Transponders will be issued to faculty/staff only.

Q: What about parking permits for the Commons conference attendees?
A: The Commons will need to coordinate and arrange parking through the events section of PTS

Q: What if your car is in the shop or you have to use another vehicle?
A: You cannot move the transponder to the vehicle being used temporarily. You don’t have to register the vehicle if it’s not a permanent change, but you will have to enter through the Burnet Road gate using your permit.

Q: Will the transponders be renewed like parking permits?
A: No, you keep the transponder permanently. It will not be replaced.

Q: What if you have to take a taxi to work?
A: You can even use the transponder in a taxi.

Q: What if you are using a Texas toll tag, and your car is in the shop?
A: You will have to go through the Burnet Road entrance.

Q: What happens if there is a power failure, and the gates won’t work?
A: The gate will be opened manually to allow vehicles through.

Q: Will the price of parking permits go down?
A: No.