Washington, D.C., politicians are attempting to raise taxes on Uber and Lyft rides in the city's downtown with the stated purpose of lessening traffic congestion. But the current design of the program offers basically no chance of improving downtown gridlock. It'll just make some trips around town more expensive.
"Digital dispatch" companies would pay a $2 fee for every trip entering the downtown between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. and leaving downtown between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to a budget amendment suggested by Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau last week, DCist reported. Her 'Congestion Management Program' is expected to raise $10.5 million a year, which would be used to subsidize fare-free bus lines.
