Uber’s contract with KCI amended

An amendment in Uber’s contract with the Kansas City Aviation Department, executed this week, means Uber drivers will not have access to the staging lots used by taxi and limo drivers at Kansas City International Airport. They will still be allowed to pick up passengers at KCI, though. 

Some background: A few weeks ago, Mark VanLoh, head of KC’s Aviation Department, signed an agreement with Uber whereby the transportation company would pay the Aviation Department a $3 fee for every airport pickup. In exchange, Uber would have access to the staging lots. 

As we noted, missing from this contract was a security clause requiring drivers picking up at the airport to obtain airport IDs, a process that entails submitting fingerprints for a background check at a cost of $31 to the driver. If limo and taxi drivers are required to go through this security check, we asked, why not Uber drivers? Especially given the tide of recent stories illuminating Uber’s less-than-rigorous third-party background checks. 

After word got out that Uber had rolled VanLoh on the contract, the city, Uber, and representatives from taxi companies met to discuss how to fix it fairly — by adding an amendment requiring Uber drivers to undergo the security check, perhaps, or by eliminating it for taxi drivers. (A 30-day cancellation was built into the agreement.) Uber objected to such an amendment. 

Under the arrangement agreed to this week, city spokesman Chris Hernandez tells The Pitch, “Uber drivers will not be allowed access to the staging area used by other ground transportation providers. Access to that staging area, also known as the ‘limo lot,’ is limited to those drivers who have an airport-issued transportation ID [badge] that requires an enhanced background check.”

So, where will the Uber drivers gather while waiting to pick up passengers?

“That’s a question for Uber,” Hernandez says. 

Uber?

“Drivers will stage in the cell phone lot, separate from the taxi and limo lot,” says Uber rep Jaime Moore. According to KCI’s website, drivers are allowed to park in this lot for two hours at no charge. 

Andy Hung, general manager of Uber KC, says: “We are thrilled that Uber partners are able to help KC residents and visitors get to and from the airport at the tap of a button for around $25 [one-way from the airport to downtown]. The tweak to the contract will not impact operations and riders will be in route to enjoying all KC has to offer within minutes of requesting.”

While this amendment provides a more even playing field between Uber and the taxi and livery companies, it doesn’t address the security concerns VanLoh overlooked (or omitted at Uber’s request) in the original contract. Uber drivers at KCI — today and every day moving forward — will have submitted to neither a city background check nor the enhanced fingerprint check required of taxi drivers.

“The KCMO Aviation Department will continue to evaluate ways to improve the efficiency and service of its ground transportation dispatch system,” Hernandez says.