(KNX 1070) -- Metro's board of directors are set to vote Thursday on whether to approve a study of taxing Uber and Lyft rides in Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles Times reports the directors are considering a study to analyze the impact of converting car lanes to toll lanes, taxing rideshare cars on the number of miles they travel or charging a fee for motorists entering specific neighborhoods.
In a study last year of major U.S. cities, it was learned that were it not for rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, customers would travel by foot, bike, or public transit. Los Angles public ridership is down by 20% since the advent of Uber and Lyft, making the concept of Metro's tax on the rideshare companies an obvious lift on congestion and could raise an estimated $30 million a year for public transit and improvements to walkways for pedestrians.
Cities such as Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. have imposed fees on ride-sharing services, using the 8.875% sales tax to increase money for subways, and the state coffers.
Uber and Lyft “are using public roads, and the profit is going to their companies,” Phil Washington, Metro’s chief executive, said at a recent meeting, according to the LA Times.
The tax idea will not be evaluated until late next year, and it would require another vote by Metro directors. If things go as planned, Metro officials are hoping to start a congestion pricing pilot program at that time.