WASHINGTON — Traditional taxis and app-based car services in the nation’s capital are bumping heads again – but this time over transportation to and from the region’s airports.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority held four public hearings, earlier this month at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport, seeking consensus on how to best regulate new transportation services. The hearings – two at each airport — assessed proposed rules for transportation companies servicing the airports.
Customers of Uber and other ridesharing companies use a cellular app to “hail” a car – and all payments are done electronically, unlike the conventional taxi system. Currently, Uber already serves Washington’s airports, but without any regulation from MWAA.
The airports authority proposal calls for Uber, Lyft and other app-based rideshare firms who want to serve Washington’s airports to pay a $5,000 one-time fee for a permit. Additionally, drivers would be required to pay an access fee of $5 per drop off or pick up.
Consumers who showed up to a June 10 hearing at Reagan national, however, said the more options the better. They thought the proposed access fee for rideshare companies – which would likely be passed through to passengers — was obnoxious.
“This is a fee that will go directly to the consumer. It’s unfair and stifles innovation,” Jolene Sugarbaker, an Uber user, said at the Reagan hearing.
But officials from the taxi industry came out in the biggest numbers for the public hearings. Drivers and operators said allowing rideshare drivers to enter the market would create unfair competition, even with the permit and fees. Licensed cab drivers currently pay only a $3 fee per ride for access to the airports.
“We are not denying the Uber business. Basically, if they want to come and service the airports, they should be following the certain criteria that we follow, and once they comply, they’re welcome to operate here,” said Chand Dodhy, who has been a taxi driver for 45 years.
The taxi industry also argued that drivers for the non-traditional companies are not subjected to the same standards as cabbies. The regulations in law for cab drivers include special licensing, insurance requirements and background checks, all which are bypassed by drivers who operate for the likes of Uber and Lyft.
Officials from Uber and Lyft told MWAA that they utilize a thorough system to insure that their drivers are examined prior to being accepted by the companies. Cab drivers, however, doubted the validity of the system.
“This non-regulated service will put the public safety at risk,” Dodhy said. “They are not qualified like cab drivers are.”
Those from the taxi industry also worry how the proposed regulations will be enforced.
“We need a way to regulate these services and enforce the regulations,” Dodhy said. “If we don’t, the public service will go down the hill, it will be like a fish market. One time a Uber driver will charge $10, next time it’ll be $100 and the overall impact will be on the public.”
Uber has a price structure that permits a surcharge based on a user’s pick up location and the demand for rides.
It’s not too late to submit a comment on the proposals. The airports authority is accepting written comments on the issue until June 22. For more information visit www.mwaa.com/7979.htm.