As Uber and Lyft have become more popular, we have seen a significant increase in congestion at Logan Airport.
Uber and Lyft made 12 million vehicle trips to and from Logan Airport in 2018
5 million of those vehicle trips did not have passengers – “deadheading”
Massport’s plan is better for Uber and Lyft customers and drivers, provides new and expanded HOV/ Logan Express options, reduces congestion for all passengers, and is better for the environment.
The plan will help mitigate Logan Airport’s congestion problem, while providing a better service to our customers and reducing our impact on the surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would Massport change the way Uber and Lyfts are operating now at the Airport?
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Uber and Lyft began at Logan Airport in February 2017 and their significant growth has contributed to growing congestion that is impacting our passengers and the surrounding communities.
Uber and Lyft created 12 million vehicle trips to and from Logan Airport last year; 5 million of those vehicles traveled without passengers, clogging Logan’s roadways, the tunnels and Rte. 1A.
Our plan allows shared ride options and “Rematch,” which matches drivers dropping off a passenger with a passenger waiting for pickup in a new, dedicated area in the Central Parking.
We expect to reduce the number of vehicles coming to Logan Airport by 30%.
How will the new plan change the customer experience for Uber and Lyft passengers coming to or leaving Logan Airport?
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By reducing congestion, we are improving the experience for all passengers and getting them to or from Logan Airport quicker.
The new, dedicated pick-up and drop-off area in the Central Garage will have:
Baggage check and Skycaps;
Improved wi-fi;
Better lighting;
Wheelchair assistance;
Increased enforcement of Ride App/TNC drivers and vehicles.
Can be implemented as early as this fall;
And will be weather-protected and climate-controlled.
Will the walk from the new Uber and Lyft area be longer?
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The new, dedicated area in the Central Parking is weather-protected, more efficient, and with less congestion, we expect the overall trip time to be shorter.
For departing passengers, the walk from this new Uber and Lyft area is approximately 5-7 minutes to the ticket counter, or shorter depending on your airline and terminal.
How will this new plan affect Uber and Lyft drivers?
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The new, dedicated Ride App space will provide a better driver experience with a shorter wait time between customers and no need to go back to the Ride App pool for a pickup.
The new design allows the driver to pick up their next customer almost immediately after dropping a customer off, i.e. Rematch.
How will surrounding communities be affected by this new plan?
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By taking 10,000 cars off the roads each day, the proposed plan reduces congestion, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The surrounding communities benefit with less congestion and better air quality.
What is the new Uber and Lyft fee?
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There is a new $3.25 drop-off fee for Uber and Lyft customers at Logan Airport. The pick-up fee of $3.25 that is already in place will not change. Shared Ride customers will have a discounted fee of $1.50 for pickups and drop-offs.
Any revenue from the Ride App fee will go toward HOV modes.
Why are drop offs at the terminal curb only allowed between 4-10 a.m?
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Massport will allow for continued terminal curbside access for drop offs on the Arrivals level between 4am and 10am.
Allowing drop offs at the Arrivals curb works in the early morning hours since the bulk of airport activity is departing flights.
How will Massport accommodate passengers with disabilities through Uber and Lyft?
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When Massport began to develop a new ground access plan for Logan Airport, ensuring continued access for persons with disabilities was a priority. The plan includes relocating all Uber and Lyft (Ride App) rides to and from Logan Airport to new dedicated curbs in the Central Parking. The new areas are connected to all terminals, weather protected, brightly lit, and include passenger services. As part of the plan, passengers with disabilities going to or coming from Logan Airport will have the choice to be picked up and dropped off in Central Parking, or continue to go to the accessible locations at the terminals curbs.
At the Central Parking drop-off area for Uber and Lyft, passengers with disabilities will have access to mobility/wheelchair assistance and elevators. If a passenger requires additional assistance due to their disability, there will be designated drop off areas at the terminal curbs.
Passengers with self-identified disabilities that limit mobility continue to have the option of getting dropped off or picked up at terminal curbs at any time of day using the “Accessibility” function in the Uber and Lyft apps. Learn more .
Why are taxis not being moved as well?
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During peak hours, Ride App operations are the largest source of congestion at Logan Airport, so moving this one mode to the garage will have the most impact on alleviating congestion on the Airport’s roadways and curbs.
There is not capacity in the garage for both Ride App and Taxi operations. There are an estimated 200,000 registered Uber and Lyft and there are only 1,825 Boston taxi medallions.
Why is the new ground transportation plan beginning in the fall?
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Curbs at Logan are already at capacity and congestion will only continue to get worse. The new plan will mitigate our congestion problem while also providing better service to customers.
The new fee structure will begin in the fall, pending completion of construction of the new, dedicated space for Uber and Lyft.
