Jack Thornton/Correspondent
Wicked Local
State and local officials from Watertown continue to support a measure to increase fees on Uber and Lyft rides in Massachusetts, believing such a measure would both decrease traffic congestion and help fund state public transportation services.
The proposed increase would see a $1.20 fee on individual passenger rides and a 40 cent fee on shared rides, as well as an additional 20 cent fee on rides occurring in Boston or its neighboring communities such as Belmont, Cambridge, and Watertown.
The measure was included in January’s transportation bonds bill, but was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Baker while much of the remaining bill was signed into law. Several notable transportation advocates disagreed with the governor’s veto, including State Representative Steven Owens, D-Watertown.