Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Brownsville holds ride-hailing work session and approves vehicles-for-hire ordinance
Loading...
Summary
After a special work session on transportation network companies and taxi rules, Brownsville's City Commission approved a second-reading ordinance updating vehicles-for-hire rules, discussed fares, airport pickup zones and taxi office requirements.
Brownsville commissioners convened a special work session on April 21 to discuss proposed revisions to Chapter 106 governing vehicles for hire, including how the city should treat transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft, fare comparisons, and where the city can lawfully impose local requirements.
Staff framed the discussion around state law, explaining that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees TNCs and that cities have limited authority except when a city is an airport owner or operator. "The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations... is a state agency charged with implementing the state TNC regulations," staff said while summarizing relevant Occupations Code sections. Staff also presented comparative local fares and a proposed local starting fare; "Our proposed is $6 is our proposal for the first fifth of a mile," staff said, noting regional comparables.
Commissioners and staff explored operational fixes they could pursue locally: removing or reconsidering a taxi requirement that drivers maintain a separate office base; adding a dashboard disclaimer that taxi meters must remain on and providing a complaint number for passengers; and negotiating agreements with TNCs for designated pickup and drop-off zones at the airport, bus transfer stations and event venues. Airport staff described plans for geofenced pickup areas and said the airport is negotiating agreements with TNC providers.
After the work session, the commission reconvened the regular meeting and approved Ordinance 2026-1788 on second and final reading. The text updates Chapter 106 to include definitions related to TNCs and revises fare-rate and taxi special fund provisions as presented.
Commissioners asked staff to return with recommended amendments addressing taxi office rules and a potential dashboard disclaimer and to continue negotiations with TNCs and airport authorities about designated pickup/drop-off areas. The commission did not adopt fare changes as part of the second-reading vote during this meeting; the work session served to guide staff recommendations.
