OC Officials OK Expansion Of Uber, Lyft Services At John Wayne Airport
ORANGE (CBSLA.com) — Next time you fly into John Wayne Airport, hailing a taxi won't be your only option.
Under an agreement approved Tuesday (PDF) by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Uber, Lyft and other smartphone-based ride-sharing services will be allowed to legally operate at the second-busiest airport in Southern California.
Known officially as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), companies like Lyft and Uber will be required to obtain permits and pay a $2.25 fee to John Wayne Airport for each ride provided, according to documents.
Perhaps most significantly, the plan would allow for all TNC services to operate at the airport, including the use of personal, non-commercial vehicles, which have spurred the rise of the app-based ride-sharing companies.
Drivers would be prohibited from scheduling passenger pickups while on airport property. But details on enforcement procedures and the permit process remained unclear.
The decision will pit the Internet-based services against more traditional transportation options like taxicabs and Super Shuttles, but officials say they may consider easing rules that require taxis to remain in designated areas as opposed to offering curbside service.
