Lyft coming back to San Antonio for 9-month pilot program following council vote

See the gallery above for everything you need to know about the drama between the city, the TNCs and the local cabdrivers. See the gallery above for everything you need to know about the drama between the city, the TNCs and the local cabdrivers. Photo: Â© 2012 San Antonio Express-News Photo: Â© 2012 San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Lyft coming back to San Antonio for 9-month pilot program following council vote 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — The City Council has approved a plan to bring ride-hailing firm Lyft back to San Antonio under a nine-month pilot program.

With the council approval, Lyft will begin working to ramp up operations and restart ride-hailing here soon.

The council voted 6-5, with council members Rebecca Viagran, Shirley Gonzales, Ray Lopez, Cris Medina, Mike Gallagher dissenting. Council members Roberto Trevino, Alan Warrick, Rey Saldana, Ron Nirenberg, Joe Krier and Mayor Ivy Taylor voted to approve the program.

Mayor Ivy Taylor said the approval sends a resounding message to the U.S.

"We are saying, loudly, that San Antonio is open for business," she said.

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The mayor's comment reflects on the urging from TechBloc and other tech businesses that having transportation-network companies such as Lyft and Uber is a barometer of progress for the city.

The council did not take up a similar operating agreement from Uber, but Taylor said she's confident the council will soon reconvene to approve an agreement with Uber — and any other TNC that wants to operate in San Antonio.

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See the slideshow above for a quick breakdown of how San Antonio's showdown with Uber and Lyft has evolved over the last year.

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh