City parking meters are gone, but what next?

Hamtramck is back to square one when it comes to choosing a parking meter system for the city’s main business district.
Recently, the city council decided not to renew its contract with the company that ran the city’s parking meters on Jos. Campau and in the municipal parking lots.
In other words, it’s free to park everywhere — for now (where it’s legal). Of course, don’t park where curbs are painted yellow, or signage otherwise forbids it.
We think it’s safe to say that these meters were universally loathed. For many, the meters’ instructions were difficult to understand, and in at least some instances, that appears to have resulted in tickets being issued by mistake.
This so-called “hi-tech system” was a failure, and Hamtramck isn’t alone in getting rid of this particular system, operated by the company Municipal Parking Systems.
Other communities that suffered with this system complained about the same issues: hard-to-understand meter directions, and a corresponding drop in the number of people patronizing their local businesses.
Now, it’s a question as to whether local businesses will be able to recoup their lost customers who have stopped showing up.
While the free parking will come as a relief to many, another huge question lingers: What will the city do to make up for the lost revenue the meters produced (albeit, mostly through tickets).
That lost revenue amounts to roughly $200,000 a year – no small chunk of change for a city this size.
Unfortunately, the city has not planned on what meter system to use as a replacement to make up for that lost revenue, which is baffling.
The city council and administration have their work ahead in figuring out a new meter system, because Hamtramck cannot afford to lose this yearly revenue stream.
Posted July 11, 2025