Trade, Commerce, and Technology Committee approves airport commission decision on Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) with recommendations. 

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles City Council’s Trade, Commerce, and Technology Committee (TCT) today endorsed a proposal to allow Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft to operate at Los Angeles International Airport, while setting out recommendations to enhance consumer protection and access.

“TNCs such as Uber and Lyft have changed the way Angelenos move around our City, and regulated or not, that has included to and from the airport,” said Blumenfield. “Today we voted with millions of consumers who demand convenient access to the airport in a way that is regulated, monitored, and above all, safe.”

Pursuant to Charter Section 245, the Committee, chaired by Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, voted 3-2 to move forward the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) July 16, 2015 action to approve a Non-Exclusive License Agreement (NELA) covering Transportation Network Companies serving Los Angeles International Airport.

Blumenfield worked to create a process that was substantive and transparent, with testimony brought before the committee from subject-matter experts and stakeholders including representatives from LAWA, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and ground transportation providers including Lyft and Uber as well as the taxi and livery industries.

Blumenfield made a series of passenger safety and accountability recommendations. The final committee report includes:

• Request LAWA to come back to TCT in 6 months and 1 year with status reports on ground transportation operations and safety at LAX including TNCs, taxis, and livery.
• Direct LADOT to draft a plan to streamline taxi regulations.
• Support AB 1422 (Cooper) to allow TNCs to participate in the DMV Pull Notice program.
• Request CPUC to provide the City’s Information Technology Agency with the zip code information on pick-up and drop-off locations for TNC rides in Los Angeles to be posted on the City’s Open Data Portal and/or shared with LAWA.
• Request LAWA to report back with a third party audit of revenue from TNC drop-offs and pick-ups at LAX.
• Request LAWA to report on Clean Fleet requirements.
• Instruct the CAO to identify funding to update LADOT’s taxi permitting technology, which dates back to Riordan administration.
• Add to the City’s legislative program an official position to request the CPUC to develop a revised, comprehensive, and uniform background check process for TNCs, limos, buses, and all other pre-arranged ride services as applicable, exploring both finger-printing, commercial databases, and the recommended best practices of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.
• Encourage BOAC to adopt uniform standards as appropriate for all LAWA-regulated ground transportation operators and/or companies.
• Direct LADOT to report to Transportation Committee on the actions necessary to require taxis to comply with the same background check processes as TNCs.

Both the airport commission decision and committee recommendations will be sent to Council for approval.