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Uber, Lyft drop-offs, pickups at Kahului Airport coming soon

Ride-sharing Uber and Lyft drivers will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu starting Aug. 24 with Kahului Airport following suit in the next couple months, state transportation officials announced Tuesday.

Gov. David Ige approved amended administrative rules Tuesday to allow Uber and Lyft, or any “transportation network companies” licensed by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission or a county agency to apply for a permit from the state Transportation Department, the department news release said.

The approved rules follow a series of statewide public hearings held in late June when more than 160 people provided testimony on the proposed rule changes. During the hearings, an “overwhelming majority” expressed support for the changes, transportation officials said.

Uber and Lyft have operated at the Honolulu airport as part of a pilot program to test the demand and operational feasibility of the services since Dec. 1.

This is the first time the rules for commercial services at airports have been amended since 2002, when ride-sharing companies and their technology did not exist.

“The pilot program and the public hearings found there is significant support and interest in TNC services at our airports,” Transportation Director Jade Butay said in the news release. “The rules are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for all prearranged ground transportation companies.”

Neighbor Island airports do not allow pickups by Uber and Lyft but do permit drop-offs, state officials said. The Transportation Department plans to review each county’s licensing regulations in relation to the new rules.

Maui Airports District Manager Marvin Moniz said Tuesday that it is difficult to enforce or catch Uber and Lyft drivers picking up visitors. Drivers have found ways around the state law for years.

“We know they come and go in the parking lot and across the street,” Moniz said. “It’s tough for us because it’s just a regular car.”

Moniz and his staff met with Uber and Lyft officials about three weeks ago to gather testimony and to answer questions regarding the new rules. He said a similar pilot program could begin possibly in mid-September or early October.

“We would do the same pilot program as Honolulu’s for a couple months to see where it goes,” Moniz said. “There’s a lot involved with starting that up, though, and finding a location that is suitable for (pickups) in what is already a tight airport.”

Moniz said the layout would be different from taxis, which have a staging area outside the baggage claim area. He said Uber and Lyft drivers could have a designated spot to do pickups.

“The meeting was just to hear how other states and cities do it; how they do pickups and where they do pickups,” he said.

The Honolulu airport will continue to have two designated areas for ride-share companies to pick up passengers. Both are located on the second level median curb.

One pickup location is at Terminal 1 (formerly the interisland terminal) across from Lobby 2 and the other is located at Terminal 2 (formerly the overseas terminal) across from Lobby 8. Pickup locations are subject to relocation as construction at the airport continues.

* Chris Sugidono can be reached at csugidono@mauinews.com.

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