George Mason University announced a new advanced parking management system to be adopted at the Mason Square Campus, effective September 8, 2025. The system will transition to Metropolis, an advanced parking management system that leverages AI-powered license plate recognition (LPR) technology to streamline garage access at the Van Metre, Vernon Smith, and Fuse garages.
As part of this modernization effort, physical parking credentials will no longer be required. Instead, a vehicle’s license plate will serve as the parking credential, allowing for seamless and contactless entry and exit from designated garages.
“Our goal has always been to make parking on campus as efficient and user-friendly as possible,” said Josh Cantor, Director of Parking and Transportation at George Mason University. “The transition to Metropolis reflects George Mason’s commitment to innovation and technology that enhance the daily experience for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”
This enhancement improves the overall parking process by streamlining short-term permit purchases, reducing entry and exit times, and decreasing parking citation occurrences through automated, accurate license plate verification.
In partnership with SP+, George Mason Parking has migrated existing user information to the new Metropolis system to ensure a frictionless transition for current permit holders. Upon activating their Metropolis account, drivers can drive directly in and out of the garages. The system will automatically scan the license plate and lift the gate, eliminating the need for physical devices or cards. For visitors, the AI-powered LPR technology will automatically detect the vehicle’s plate and verify access or process payments through the user’s Metropolis account.