San Francisco-based ride-hailing company Uber this morning announced plans to launch its service in Springfield pending the result of Missouri legislation.
Senate Bill 991 and House Bill 2330 are designed to establish statewide regulations for transportation network companies, the technical name for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft.
In a news release, Uber officials said passage of the legislation would lead the company to enter four new Missouri markets by the end of 2016: Springfield, Jefferson City, St. Charles and St. Joseph.
“This legislation would allow us to create 10,000 new driver opportunities across the Show-Me State,” Uber Missouri General Manager Sagar Shah said in the release.
If passed,
the legislation would require transportation network companies’ drivers to obtain permits from the state Department of Revenue, pass background checks and meet minimum insurance requirements.
Uber officials said similar laws are on the books in 28 states, including Illinois and Kansas. The company currently operates in the Missouri cities of St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia. Similar rules being proposed by Missouri legislators are on the books in those cities.
Local level
Springfield City Council is considering a similar ordinance to place regulations on ride-hailing services.
On March 21, council will hold a first reading and allow for public comment on a proposal to establish rules for transportation network companies, similar to those being considered at the state level, said Assistant City Manager Collin Quigley.
“It sets up the requirements in a parallel fashion to our taxi regulations,” Quigley said of the proposed ordinance. “Our ordinances don’t allow those companies at this point.”
Quigley said council’s finance and administration committee - chaired by Ken McClure and comprising Kristi Fulnecky, Craig Hosmer and Mike Schilling - met in February and voted to send the measure to the full governing body. The committee recommends approval of the ordinance, Quigley said, noting requests from residents prompted the action.
If the state legislation passes, it would supersede any city rules, Quigley said.
Quigley said the city ordinance also would streamline local taxi regulations, including the elimination of a document showing proof of liquid assets and the relocation of drivers’ permit renewals to the city’s licensing office.
In February, Uber began running advertising on radio and Craigslist for Springfield drivers.
