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Syracuse airport gets ready for ride-hailing

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News File Photo

Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport is preparing for the era of ride-hailing services that’s about to descend on upstate New York.

Starting June 29, travelers will be able to use ride hailing apps to get around town. One of the major requests is expected to include rides back and forth to the Syracuse airport. To that end, airport commissioner Christina Callahan says the airport is working with the two big players in the ride-hailing world, Lyft and Uber.

"We will have Lyft on site on June 29. We reached an agreement with them. They have committed to providing ride sharing for our passengers and will actually be operating at the airport on June 29. We’re currently in the process of negotiating with Uber to do the same thing,” Callahan said.

Callahan says there will be a dedicated location at the airport for Uber or Lyft to pick up passengers. Riders using the ride-hailing services will be dropped off the same way any passenger is dropped off, in front of the main terminal. Callahan says signage and communication will be key as travelers navigate this additional option.

"For us, it’s incorporating ride sharing into the larger network of transportation options -- whether it’s traditional taxis, which we will still have on site, the availability of rental cars and just the logistics of incorporating ride sharing,” Callahan said.

New York state lawmakers this year agreed to expand ride hailing services upstate, after years of availability only in the New York City area.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.