The City of Milwaukee is planning a significant increase in parking citations and violation fees for 2025. This initiative is part of a strategy to address a growing $4 million deficit projected for the Hop streetcar system, which has struggled financially since its opening in 2018. 

On October 10, Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke unveiled a proposal to issue over 500,000 parking tickets next year, a rise of more than 45,000 tickets from 2024. The proposed fines would also see a nearly 50% increase, with violations like parking on the wrong side of the street jumping from $20 to $30, and parking too close to crosswalks going from $30 to $40, according to FOX6.

The Hop streetcar, which has been operating with an average annual deficit of $2.2 million, will lose the $2.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds it has relied on since the pandemic. This funding gap has raised concerns among city officials, with Alderman Scott Spiker questioning whether the new parking fines are being used to subsidize the streetcar’s operation. 

The proposal to increase parking tickets and fees is set to be voted on by the City Council on November 8. As the budget debate continues, the future of the Hop and its funding remains a contentious issue for Milwaukee residents.