LA Metro Considers Ride-Hailing Tax

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority is considering a tax on Uber and Lyft rides in an effort to decrease traffic congestion, the LA Times reports.

Metro's board of directors is hoping that adding on a tax will discourage "single passenger" rides, and promote carpooling and public transit. While fee discussions are still in the early stages, Metro has suggested that a 20-cent fee would generate $401 million over 10 years.

Transportation officials have said that ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft "don’t pay their fair share to maintain public streets and exacerbate congestion in a traffic-choked region."

Metro is also considering over a dozen more ideas to help reduce traffic congestion ahead of L.A. hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics.