Starting April 5, 2021, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) will charge all for-hire vehicles (FHVs) an access fee for pick-ups and drop-offs at Newark, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy airports. All FHVs—including app-based services like Uber and Lyft—will be charged $2.50 for each pick-up and drop-off. For shared trips (pooled rides of multiple passengers), the charge will be $1.25 for each pick-up and drop-off. Taxis will be charged $1.25 for pick-ups only, increasing to $1.75 per taxi pick-up beginning on October 1, 2022.

The Port Authority is requiring that all FHV base operators sign an FHV Privilege Permit to be able to provide service at the airports. There is a Rider to the FHV Privilege Permit for Black Cars that contains important and notable exceptions for FHVs that are licensed as a black car base, limousine operator, luxury limousine base, or livery base that are not considered high volume for-hire services (i.e., Uber, Lyft, and Via).

Initial Fee, Security Deposit & Payment of Fees. Under the Rider, there is no initial fee for Black Car bases.  However, these bases must pay a security deposit based on the total number of projected airport trips for the next three months. The Port Authority will waive the security deposit requirements if the total number of projected airport trips is less than 400.

The access fees must be paid to the Port Authority monthly. However, Black Car bases that are able show that they rely on non-direct cash payments, such as corporate accounts, may request to make quarterly payments.

Other Obligations. The Rider omits the requirements for geo-fencing, the digital driver profile, tracking mobile apps, providing ride request data, and additional insurance coverage—which still apply to high-volume FHVs.  Black Car drivers must be able to display, on request from airport or law enforcement personnel, a paper or electronic copy of a waybill containing the following information for each trip in progress:

  • The Black Car base name and Port Authority-issued permit number;
  • Driver name;
  • The vehicle’s license plate number, make, and model;
  • The on-airport pick-up or drop-off location;
  • Date and time of on-airport pick-up or drop-off; and
  • Transaction type (pick-up or drop-off).

 

If you need assistance complying with the Port Authority Access Permit or have any questions, please contact Matt Daus at mdaus@windelsmarx.com.