LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – It could soon be more expensive to park in the city of Lansing.

Lansing Economic Development and Planning Director Rawley Van Fossen said the proposal would allow them to introduce more uniform parking rates across the city. However, shoppers and some downtown businesses are concerned about the impact the proposed changes could have on them.

“With all the taxation going on, the last thing we need is to raise parking fees,” said Lansing resident Rick Wendorf.

Wendorf and one of the directors of Summit Comics & Games, Alexis McComber, said the price of parking downtown is already too high.

“It keeps people from wanting to open a business here because they know their customers will have to pay for parking,” McComber said.

With more people working from home as a result of the pandemic, fewer people need to park in Lansing, causing the city’s Parking Services Division to lose money, making it harder to pay for employees and maintenance of parking lots.

“It affects our financial results, but on top of that, and even better, it also affects the businesses,” admitted Van Fossen.

Lansing City Council members are considering a proposal that would result in a more uniform parking rate. The proposal would increase parking rates at the Lansing Center ramp from $2 an hour to $3 an hour, which would match the rate at other city-owned parking lots. It would also streamline downtown parking spot rates, bringing all downtown spots from $1.25 per hour to $1.50 per hour.

“What we’re trying to accomplish is size our parking system to best serve all of these audiences and all of the varied needs, while still having a system that’s easy to access and makes sense for everyone.” , explained Van Fossen.

Van Fossen stressed that downtown parking rates will remain virtually unchanged.

I think what we have proposed puts us in good shape. it is quite possible that over the next two years we will have 600 additional homes in our city center. We need to think about a parking system that can also meet the needs of this future,” said Van Fossen.

The proposal comes from Lansing Parking Study which was released in December 2023.

The Lansing City Commission is considering other possible changes from the study, including adding 20-minute loading zones and decreasing parking enforcement hours.

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