Playaparq Conditions Digital Parking Tickets on Rate Increase

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The company that manages the city’s parking meters, Playaparq, has no intention of raising rates on its own, but proposed a price increase as a condition for upgrading to a digital ticket system, the company’s director said.

Pedro de Velasco, Playaparq’s general director, said in an interview that the company analyzed improving the current payment system and suggested a rate hike to cover the costs, but insisted they do not actually want to raise prices.

The proposal emerged after Javier Santos, a city councilor on the Mobility Commission, suggested replacing the paper tickets that drivers place under their windshields with a digital system. In response, Playaparq sent an official letter detailing the cost of the change — about 4 million pesos — and said it would be funded through a rate increase.

After the letter caused a stir, the municipal government issued a statement saying it would not approve any rate increase. That effectively freed Playaparq from the pressure to modernize its system. De Velasco confirmed the company had no real intention of raising rates.

According to Playaparq’s concession agreement, the company pays the Playa del Carmen city council about 1 million pesos per month. The company earns roughly 3 million pesos monthly from managing the system, which was installed seven years ago.

De Velasco said he has not received any invitation from the city council to participate in working groups, but added that he is willing to explain how the system works and evaluate possible improvements.