McAllen commission to consider $3 fee on rideshare trips at the airport

McAllen city commissioners will consider imposing a $3 fee on every Uber and Lyft pickup and drop-off at McAllen Miller International Airport during their Monday meeting.

The proposal would require Raiser, LLC — which operates Uber — and Lyft Inc. to pay the city $3 for each trip conducted at the airport. 

The charge would apply every time a rideshare driver either drops off or picks up a passenger.

According to a memorandum from Jeremy A. Santoscoy, the city’s director of aviation, the fee is part of a non-exclusive operating permit governing Transportation Network Companies, or TNCs, at the airport.

The companies would remit payments monthly, with payments due within 20 days after the close of each calendar month. 

The city may increase the per-trip fee once per year with at least 60 days’ notice.

The proposed permit term would last one year with automatic one-year renewals unless either party terminates the agreement.

City staff is recommending approval of the permits.

Airport officials did not provide a projection of annual revenue tied to the proposed fee. But because the charge is assessed per trip, revenue would fluctuate with rideshare activity and overall passenger traffic at the airport.