LAX officials approve higher fees for rideshare companies when Automated People Mover opens

New fees, new location: Getting an Uber or Lyft to and from the ground transport center, a new section of curb space for airport pick ups and drop offs, will come with a $6 airport fee. That’s $2 more than what you pay now to get dropped off at the terminals and picked up at LAX-It. The ground transport center will be about a four-minute ride on the Automated People Mover to the terminal area. LAX-It will shut down as a rideshare and taxi lot once the train opens.

Higher fee for terminal access: The fee to get dropped off or picked up by a rideshare service in the horseshoe will be $12.

Why: The increase in fees, which have been stagnant for a decade, is meant to encourage use of the Automated People Mover once it opens and decrease congestion in the terminal.

Uber’s response: The rideshare company has been trying to stave off the fee increase. Danielle Lam, the head of local California policy for Uber, said the increased fees “directly impact riders and reduce demand for drivers who rely on airport trips.”

Fee on companies: The commissioners emphasized that these fees are levied on companies, including Uber and Lyft, who then decide to pass the cost onto customers. Gig work drivers expressed concerns during the public comment period about how the fee might affect their ability to make ends meet. Airport officials agreed to convene quarterly meetings with drivers to assess the impact the fees have.

Where does the money go: David Reich, a deputy executive director for the city agency that manages the airport, told commissioners that revenue collected from these fees goes toward funding capital projects. The increased fees are expected to generate as much as $100 million in the first year the Automated People Mover is usable.

Automated People Mover: It’s the question of the decade: When does the Automated People Mover open? The latest timeline has the much-delayed and over-budget train opening in time for the World Cup, but no official date has been announced. LAist has reported that there are ongoing issues between the city and the contractor it hired to bring the train online.