PHOENIX — If you take an Uber or Lyft to or from Sky Harbor Airport, your trip could soon get more expensive.
Last week, the city initially approved raising the fee of getting a rideshare to or from the airport to $4 each way in 2020. The rate would increase by 25 cents each year, reaching $5 by 2024.
The city council voted 7-2 to approve the fee increase on Oct. 16.
But Phoenix spokeswoman Julie Watters told 12 News on Wednesday that the City Council will consider the fee increase again on Dec. 18. She did not say why the council needed to revote.
Right now, riders pay a $2.66 fee only when they get picked up.
The proposal that council members voted on last week says the increased fees would help the airport keep up with the costs to operate its ground transportation program.
City officials initially said the rideshare operators can choose whether to pass the fees onto their customers or drivers—unlike certain regulated providers, like taxis, which are barred from passing on fees to customers.
A spokesperson for Uber said in an Oct. 16 release the fee increase will unfairly burden rideshare customers over people who use other forms of ground transportation.
“The proposal would also make PHX one of the most expensive airports in terms of rideshare fees not just in the U.S., but globally,” the statement from Uber said.
A statement from Lyft on Oct. 16 said the company was "disappointed" in the outcome of the hearing.
"This tax unfairly burdens riders who rely on Lyft for affordable and convenient transportation to and from Sky Harbor with funding the $26 million needed to complete SkyTrain construction unrelated to their choice of transportation," part of the statement read.
The company added that it would be reviewing airport operations to "determine the best path forward for future service."
But the city argued the new fees would help encourage the use of the Sky Train and ease congestion at the airport's pick-up and drop-off curbs.
