As Austin’s ground transportation service industry faces upheaval due to new competition, taxi drivers are using a looming expiration of the city’s taxicab franchises as an opportunity to push for, among other requests, a cooperative, driver-owned franchise. Dave Passmore, president of the taxicab union Taxi Drivers Association of Austin, garnered attention Tuesday morning when he […]
Transportation Network Companies
Companies that provide transportation services through applications such as Uber or Lyft.
Posted inAustin, Texas State Legislature
Local witnesses urge legislators to reject TNC bill
The House Transportation Committee heard numerous witnesses Thursday both supporting and opposing HB 2440, which would designate the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles as the state agency charged with issuing permits and overseeing rules for transportation networking companies such as Uber and Lyft. The proposal would also eliminate city regulations for such companies. For that […]
Posted inTransit
Mobility Committee considers taxicab regulations
While taxicabs have served Austin for decades, the entrance of Uber and Lyft into the picture has prompted a ground-up re-evaluation of how the city regulates the seasoned industry. The City Council Mobility Committee considered a set of amendments to the city’s taxicab ordinance Wednesday that, among other changes, would increase the number of available […]
Posted inAustin, Transportation
Mobility Committee considers future of Lyft, Uber
Transportation network companies such as Lyft and Uber have come a long way since they launched outside of Austin’s regulatory framework last May. Still, they have more distance to travel before they can be considered a permanent part of the city’s transportation system. Transportation Department staff presented the City Council Mobility Committee with a set […]
Posted inTransportation, Uncategorized
Council still far from agreement on TNC ordinance
City Council members demonstrated Tuesday that there is still considerable disagreement about the finer points of an ordinance that would temporarily legalize transportation network companies in Austin, despite its approval on first and second readings, with a final reading on Thursday’s agenda. The conversation at this week’s Council work session revolved almost exclusively around Council […]