City officials and the ride-hailing firm Uber are close to inking a deal that would bring the company back to San Antonio under a nine-month pilot program, according to sources with knowledge of the proposal.

Under the deal, Uber’s drivers will undergo a voluntary fingerprint check, according to the sources. Photos of Uber drivers on the smartphone application used to hail rides will show city-issued identification numbers, indicating the drivers passed the city’s fingerprint check.

The program would come on the heels of a similar deal approved last month by the City Council for Lyft. Both ride-hailing firms closed their San Antonio operations on April 1, when a city ordinance took effect that the companies claimed was too onerous for their business models. A key issue was the background check process.

Uber is expected to also allow riders to cancel trips without paying a fee if they book a ride and then discover that the driver hasn’t gone through the city’s background check process, sources with knowledge of the deal said.

Check out the U.S. cities served by Lyft (blue) and/or Uber (red)

An Uber spokeswoman declined to comment on the proposal, which sources said is imminent.

Lyft completely left the area in April, but Uber has continued to operate in a limited capacity in suburban cities and unincorporated Bexar County.

That could prove beneficial for Uber because the company may be able to relaunch its San Antonio service quicker than its competitor.

A Lyft spokeswoman said recently that company officials are continuing internal discussions about a hard launch date.

Lyft drivers who pass the city check also will have a place on their driver profiles to publish their city-issued ID numbers.

The Lyft app will also indicate whether the driver is a member of the military or has veteran status.

After Mayor Ivy Taylor was elected in June, she directed City Manager Sheryl Sculley to develop a pilot program and she appointed Councilman Roberto Treviño to oversee the process.

The councilman said late Tuesday that he’s hopeful a deal with Uber would soon be completed. For Uber, working within the framework laid out by Lyft is key.

In August, the council approved the Lyft deal in a controversial 6-5 vote. Councilman Joe Krier — the swing vote — made it clear that he appreciated Lyft’s willingness to work with the city and chided Uber for how it has handled negotiations.

If Uber’s deal fits the framework approved by the council for Lyft, and sources say it does, it wouldn’t have to go back for council approval.

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh