As if those prices aren’t high. Right! Well, new tax policies in Chicago are raising the prices of your Lyft and Uber rides there, far from things you could expect.
‘Congestion fee’
Governments are on the move to make money from the law. Some passengers felt the effect starting last Tuesday as the congestion fee was implemented. The fee was from the city’s budget for 2026.
The new tax policy, roughly titled "Ground Transportation Tax - Surcharges for Congestion Zones,” took effect early in the morning on Tuesday, and is dependent upon where you asked to be picked up and where your are asking to get dropped off.
It also mandates that for each single ride, trips from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time in the “congestion zones” will cost $1.50 more – up from $1.13 – per vehicle per ride. Like raising prices of buses and train fares!
Meanwhile, for shared rides, 60 cents will be topped up to the current rate.
Find out what these congestion zones are
The policy says there are two “congestion zones” where the prices would apply. Zone 1, or the first zone, covers a big portion of the downtown, including River North, The Loop, and West Loop. It stretches from Pilsen to 31st Street Beach, then along the lake to nearby Andersonville.
The second zone, or Zone 2, runs fom East 60th Street to South Cottage Grove and East Hyde Park Boulevard. These zones exclude Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Burdening passengers?
It’s funny that when businesses like fast-food chains make money from their work and products, people would simply react, “It’s so expensive,” if they don’t agree, but more often than not, they’d comment on the taste of the food.
However, if governments do the similar thing, people are vehemently dismayed.
A netizen commented on Facebook on the congestion tax, “Don’t put up cameras and don’t raise taxes. Stop crazy loud vehicles instead of folks trying to get to work. No one wants this.”
Those are just one of the comments. Mayor Brandon Johnson is saying this clause from the 2026 budget won’t be get vetoed.
“I want to announce I will not veto the budget approved by the Chicago City Council. I will not add my signature affirming the budget as presented,” he told Ridesharing Forum. “In this moment, I will not add the risk and speculation of a government shutdown to the profound worries Chicagoans face.”
Here are the other stuff that would be increased in terms of the prices:
- Checkout bags
- Social networking sites that collect consumer data
- Sports licensees
- Personal property lease transaction taxes
- Motor vehicle lessor taxes
- Boat mooring taxes
- Liquid taxes
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