Ride-sharing services could start earlier

State lawmakers agree to a measure allowing the services to operate upstate earlier than originally planned.

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> State legislators have agreed to a measure that would allow for ride-sharing services to operate in upstate earlier than originally planned.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, announced Wednesday that new legislation has passed that will expedite the approval of ride-hailing services for Upstate New York and Long Island.

The legislation would move up the effective date to 80 days to allow for the availability of the services during the July 4th weekend, Cahill said. If signed by the Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the bill would make ride-hailing services permissible as of June 29.

“The public has been clear in their interest in seeing ride-hailing become a transportation option for Upstate communities,” Cahill said in a press release. “This legislation does not infringe on any of the protections offered in the regulatory schema, but instead authorizes the product to come to life a mere 10 days earlier to cover a peak holiday weekend.”

“Both the Assembly and Senate recognize the benefit of this common sense legislation and worked to streamline its passage,” added Cahill, who has been instrumental in crafting ride-shiaring legislation.

“The bill is in line with lawmakers’ original objective,” Cahill said. “The Legislature intended for these services to be available for this weekend, however, when budget negotiations extended beyond April 1, the standard 90 day time frame made that impossible. “

Ride-sharing services could be coming to Kingston.

Spokesmen for both Lyft and Uber, two of the best-known services, have said they are considering adding Kingston to the lineups.

Last week, Lyft officials participated in a celebratory gathering at the Redwood Restaurant on North Front Street in Kingston to cheer the original passage of a measure in the state Legislature allowing for ride-sharing services in upstate New York. They also met with Ulster County Executive Michael Hein.

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble is strongly in favor of having ridesharing services in the city, and he attended the event at the Redwood.

Josh Gold, Uber’s New York policy director, told the Times Union newspaper of Albany that his company hopes to come to Kingston.

Adrian Durbin, Lyft’s communications director, said the company is actively seeking Kingston drivers.

“We are planning to launch all across the entire state soon, and we are eager to launch as soon as possible,” Durbin has said.