Members of the House and Senate are making a new push to get federal workers to use companies like Uber and Lyft to get to work, both to save money and to help them navigate the nation’s capital while its Metro system undergoes major repairs into 2017.
On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee unanimously approved the Transit Benefits Modernization Act. That bill would create a pilot program that would let federal agencies give their employees transportation benefits in a way so they can be used with “ridesharing” companies like Uber and Lyft.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said his bipartisan bill is needed because the Metro has become unusable for federal workers and others while sections of it are being replaced.
“During a time when WMATA is getting its house in order, federal commuters have been frustrated at their lack of timely options for getting in to work,” he said this week. “My hope is that this bill will allow federal workers to expand their commuting options and not require them to depend on a sole, unreliable form of transportation during WMATA’s time period of construction.”
His bill finds that during peak hours, about 40 percent of Metro’s riders are federal workers. The legislation would let agencies offer alternative transportation benefits through the end of 2018 for “transportation network companies” like Uber and Lyft.
Over in the Senate, Republicans and Democrats on Thursday proposed the Modernizing Government Travel Act. The sponsor of that bill, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, indicated it’s aimed at getting federal workers to take advantage of the cost-savings of Uber and Lyft.
“Millions of Americans have saved themselves time and money by using new innovative travel services such as Uber, Lyft and bikeshare, but current federal travel reimbursement regulations have made it difficult for federal employees to use these new technologies while on the job,” he said.
“This bill would require the GSA to clarify the availability of these options so our federal employees can increase efficiency and decrease costs.”
But while the rideshare services are perceived to be cheaper, some of the cost savings to riders appear to be coming from investor subsidies. In August, it was reported that Uber lost $1.2 billion in the first half of the year, mostly due to the subsidies it pays to its drivers.
