Logan Forcing Uber, Lyft Away from Terminals to Help Reduce Airport Traffic
Massport is rolling out its plan on Monday to move ride-hail companies like Uber and Lyft away from Logan International Airport terminals and over to designated areas in order to ease worsening congestion around the airport.
The total number of Uber and Lyft trips made at Logan is expected to reach 14 million by the end of 2019.
“We’ve had a tremendous increase in traffic over the last three years,” said Massport’s Director of Aviation Edward Freni. “We wanted to make sure we set up an area that could accommodate all of the operational needs and customers’ needs to make the experience as good as it can be.”
According to Daniel Gallagher, director of Aviation Business and Finance at Massport, officials worked with both ride-hail companies to develop the plan and believe that the resulting reduction in gridlock will offset the challenges Uber and Lyft drivers may face by moving farther from the terminals.
“Uber and Lyft have become so popular that they represent roughly 40% of the vehicles at the airport during our peak period,” Gallagher said. “So it’s going to be quicker for them to go through the garage than to wait in traffic.”
Starting Monday, passengers requesting ride-share pickups from Terminals A and C will be required to meet their drivers in Central Parking. One week later, pickups at Terminals B and E will be moved there as well.
On Nov. 11, all ride-hail drop-offs between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. will move to lower-level terminal curbs and on Dec. 9 all drop-offs, excluding those between 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., will move to Central Parking.
These impending changes were met with a mix of reactions from riders, some welcoming the efforts to ease congestion and others irritated with what they said was an added inconvenience.
“It’s definitely a pain in the neck,” said rider Michael Owens, who said he travels from Logan twice a month. “Now you’re just making it more difficult for individuals to use Uber.”
Timothy Richard, who waited for his Uber in the ride-hail staging area in front of Terminal C on Wednesday, said he felt the exact opposite.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Richard said. “There won’t be as much stop and go for people like us out in front of the terminal. And people who use Uber and Lyft are going to use it regardless.”
Drivers who spoke with the Herald on Wednesday said they weren’t very concerned that the change would heavily impact them.
“I’m OK with it, because when it comes to traffic sometimes it takes us 15 to 20 minutes just to get up to the terminal,” said Uber driver Frew Gurmesa.
“Maybe it can work, let’s see what’s going to happen,” said Uber driver Peterson Ferreira. “I’m not too concerned.”
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