Colonie

Lyft has reached out to the Albany County Airport Authority, seeking to begin service there now that ride-sharing is about to become legal across New York state.

One section of legislation approved last month by the state legislature gave airports the authority to enter into contracts or other agreements with ride-sharing companies, and regulate and charge fees for access.

The Albany County Airport Authority, which took the lead in lobbying for the clause, on Monday approved its own plan to issue operating permits to so-called transportation network companies such as Lyft and Uber that would charge a $2 pick-up and $2 drop-off fee per vehicle, as well as a one-time $5,000 fee to set up service.

Capitaland Taxi, which has the airport taxi concession, would see its pick-up and drop-off fee also rise to $2 per vehicle from $1.43 currently. Capitaland Taxi paid the authority $73,072 in 2016, up from $68,732 a year earlier.

Demand for airport taxis is expected to drop once Lyft, and possibly Uber, begin serving the airport, said Peter Mandle, executive vice president of InterVistas Consulting, which studied fee structures and ride-sharing impact at airports similar to Albany.

"I don't think (taxis) will drop out. They'll see a significant reduction in business," Mandle said. "There's always a number of people who for any number of reasons prefer to take a taxi."

Capitaland Taxi, which had committed to dedicating a fleet of 13 seven-passenger late-model vans to airport service in return for its exclusive taxicab concession, should see that commitment reduced, Mandle recommended.

Albany's $2 fee per vehicle would be tied with Norfolk International for lowest of the airports studied. Savannah/Hilton Head International charges $2.50, while Des Moines International charges $3 and Bradley International outside Hartford charges $3.50.

Ride-sharing services are expected to be available after July 8.