Senator Gallivan Supports Bill to Bring Ride-Sharing to Upstate New York

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C-I, Elma) joined his Senate colleagues on Monday in approving a comprehensive bill to bring ride-sharing to Upstate communities and improve local economies. The bill (S4159) provides the framework for ride-sharing companies to expand operations outside of New York City and enable new jobs to be created by offering safe, reliable transportation options to Upstate residents and visitors.

“It is simply unacceptable that ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft are not available in Western New York and other upstate communities,” Gallivan said.  “This legislation will create jobs and provide more transportation options for residents and visitors while generating funds to improve our roads and bridges.  I urge the Assembly and the Governor to act on this bill and end the unfair treatment of upstate New York when it comes to ride-sharing services.” 

This Senate bill differs from the Executive Budget proposal by significantly cutting the taxes to be paid by ride-share customers to make it more attractive for businesses to operate here. While the Executive Budget includes a tax of 5.5 percent on rides that begin outside of New York City, the Senate’s measure cuts that tax to 2 percent and does not subject rides to the 4 percent state sales tax. That new revenue would go directly towards infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, and county transit needs.

The measure includes important protections for both drivers and consumers as part of the regulatory framework authorizing Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft to operate in upstate communities. It requires criminal and driving history background checks, passenger notifications of driver information and trip charges, and the adoption of non-discrimination and zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies. The bill creates a new TNC Accessibility Task Force to identify and address barriers to and opportunities for greater access for New Yorkers of all abilities, and includes TNC drivers in workers’ compensation insurance offered through the existing Black Car Fund, among other provisions.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly