Uber Stays

New agreement with city keeps Uber in Houston through Super Bowl LI

UberLUX lux black car luxury vehicle ride sharing service 2015

Uber will remain in Houston through Super Bowl LI.

Courtesy of Uber

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday that the City of Houston has developed a new strategy for regulations concerning vehicles-for-hire that will keep Uber in Houston at least through Super Bowl LI. Today's announcement ends the squabbling between the city and the popular transportation app for now.

The new plan decreases the cost of licensing from $200 to $70, cuts the process in half, and allows drivers to be licensed in under 20 minutes. The policy on requiring fingerprints for a background check will not change.

"I am thrilled we can finally put this issue to rest and focus on the real task at hand—providing a great Super Bowl experience that shows off our City,” Turner said in a statement. "We’ve crafted a proposal that reduces the length and cost of a driver application but still protects public safety. This is a win for drivers and passengers alike. These changes will help make sure that visitors have a seamless experience during the Super Bowl and Houstonians have diverse transportation options to meet the growing needs of our city."

Uber issued a statement of its own, in which Texas general manager Sarfraz Maredia said, “For the past few months, we have worked in good faith with Mayor Turner to come to a compromise that would allow us to stay for the Super Bowl. Uber fully intends to continue operating through the Super Bowl under the City's proposed licensing changes."

Whether individual cities will be allowed to regulation ride sharing apps remains to be seen. The Texas Legislature is expected to consider two proposals that would provide statewide standards, which could allow companies like Lyft and Uber to return to Austin.

In addition to the new regulations, the mayor also announced the launch of Arro, a new app that will allow Houstonians and visitors easier access to the city's 9,000 taxi and limo drivers. The app is available now for both Apple and Android devices.

"We are very excited to bring Arro's consumer and driver friendly app to the people of Houston starting today. Arro's presence is a significant step toward enhancing robust transportation options throughout Houston," said Arro founder Mike Epley. "Our app has already enjoyed great success in several cities by offering a potential boost to drivers’ incomes and providing faster and easier transportation access for passengers. ”

transportation traffic

no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana