An emerging story in 2026 will be whether usage of the municipal parking garages in Downtown Charlottesville will be affected by a transition to a system that requires users to give personal information over to a national corporation including access to a bank account in order to leave.
On December 19, the City of Charlottesville began usage of an access management system run by Metropolis, a company that seeks to usher in something called the “Recognition Economy.”
“This is the new age of personalized intelligence where presence and context replace devices, tickets and credentials as the foundation for a more intuitive, connected and human world,” reads a December 4 press release from the company.
This means there is no longer any option for people to use cash or opt out of having information used by the nation’s largest parking operator.
“There is signage in the garages for people to access the QR code to set up the ability to make those payments,” said City Manager Sam Sanders.
Charlottesville selected a company called SP+ to run the city’s two garages in the spring of 2024. Around the same time, Metropolis acquired the company. In November 2025, Metropolis announced the receipt of $1.6 billion in venture capital to promote new technology.
“The round values Metropolis at approximately $5 billion, underscoring global investor conviction in the company’s mission to build the foundation of the Recognition Economy — an age where the physical world itself becomes intelligent, responsive and personal,” reads that press release.
Charlottesville’s economic development director, Chris Engel, will provide more information to City Council on January 5. Sanders said additional information will be shared via the city’s communications office if needed.
A couple of days later, the city announced parking would be free December 20 through December 25. I’ve not had a response yet to ask if the new system is being used.
Under the new system, giving information over to Metropolis is mandated.
“People who do come to the parking garages will need to sign up once they do enter,” said City Council Clerk Kyna Thomas. “They will not be able to exit without signing up.”
City Councilor Michael Payne said the public needs to be aware that Metropolis uses so-called AI technology to recognize vehicles.
“They are under several class-action lawsuits including several from state Attorney Generals for systematically sending inaccurate bills as well as improperly handling private information from customers,” Payne said.
One reason cited in the city’s press release is a need to install something new to replace failing technology.
“The pay on foot has not worked properly in the last 6 months, so we needed a new system,” said Afton Schneider, the city’s communications and public engagement director.
New equipment was installed at both garages on Market Street and Water Street in June 2019 according to a Charlottesville Tomorrow article. The city paid $350,000 for a system that involved dispensing of tickets that could be scanned at kiosks. At the time, parking attendants were converted to parking ambassadors.
The change comes after the city disbanded an advisory panel set up in 2016 to oversee parking operations.
“Council reorganized all of their boards and commissions and they made this one a staff advisory panel at which point they stopped making appointments,” Schneider said. “Once the terms ran out, the panel wrote a letter and agreed to end it which happened in 2023.”
The city also no longer has a full-time employee to serve as parking manager.
Other local stories on this topic:
- Charlottesville Introduces New Parking Technology to Downtown Garages, Charlottesville press release, December 12, 2025
- Charlottesville parking garages launch ticketless system, WVIR 29 News, December 15, 2025
- Two of the city’s largest parking garages are now using artificial intelligence to recognize your car, Erin O’Hare, Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 17, 2025
- City using AI-powered license plate readers to charge for garage parking, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly
- Free parking in downtown Charlottesville, Sharra Klug, CBS19 News, December 18, 2025
- Downtown Charlottesville parking garages free through Christmas, Charlottesville Daily Progress, December 20, 2025
Some national stories on this topic:
- Firm hired to run S.A. airport’s parking faces complaints, lawsuits, Richard Webner, San Antonio Express-News, November 28, 2024
- 4 class action lawsuits filed against garages/parking lots using cameras to identify license plates, Jeremy Finley, WSMV, December 19, 2024
- Metropolis parking provider expands rapidly despite mounting complaints, legal battles, Nashville Tennessean (paywall), July 16, 2025
Before you go: Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the December 17, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. You can either subscribe through Substack, make a monthly contribution through Patreon, or consider becoming a sponsor. The goal of Town Crier Productions is to increase awareness about what is happening at the local, regional, state, and federal government levels. Please share the work with others if you want people to know things.
Discover more from Information Charlottesville
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
