Transportation officials are considering a tax on Uber and Lyft rides in Los Angeles County, saying the Bay Area tech companies don’t pay their fair share to maintain public streets and exacerbate congestion in a traffic-choked region.
spent on new rail lines. Ridership is now at its lowest level in more than a decade, driven by a shift to driving instead of using Metro’s sprawling bus network.
The earliest such a tax could be assessed would be late next year, and it would require another vote by Metro directors. If all goes according to plan, Metro officials hope to start a congestion pricing pilot program at the same time. In statements, Uber and Lyft said they support policies that apply to all types of traffic congestion, including personal cars and commercial vehicles. In New York, Uber has said it willto advocate for policies that would reduce single-occupancy driving, including congestion pricing.
Whether fees change rider behavior depends on their size and how they are applied, said Juan Matute, deputy director of UCLA's Institute of Transportation Studies. A fee charged by the mile, as a flat rate or as a percentage of the cost of the total ride could each have a different effect.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Uber vs. Lyft IPO: The Race to Go PublicUber and Lyft are both revving up for two of the most anticipated IPOs of 2019. In three rounds, we look at which company will be a better bet for investors.
Read more »
Pinterest files confidentially for IPO, expected to seek valuation of at least $12 billion: WSJPinterest joins other tech companies like Lyft, Uber and Postmates that are all expected to go public this year.
Read more »
BMW, Daimler Join Forces In $1.1 Billion Ride-Hailing, Car-Sharing DealBMW and Daimler are combining for a joint venture funded by $1.1 billion to compete with Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing firms
Read more »