Philadelphia City Council is expected to vote on Thursday, June 4 on a proposed $1 tax on rideshare trips, a measure that has received both support and pushback.
If approved, the proposal would increase the cost of rides booked through services such as Uber and Lyft by $1 per trip.
As the vote approaches, the NBC10 Responds team compared several transportation options for getting around Philadelphia.
The team traveled from Philadelphia International Airport to the Comcast Technology Center in Center City using Uber, Lyft, a traditional taxi and SEPTA.
Uber and Lyft offered similar wait times, with each ride arriving in seven minutes or less.
The Lyft ride cost $27 and took about 24 minutes to reach Center City. The Uber ride was slightly more expensive at $29.95 and took about 27 minutes.
A traditional taxi was available immediately but cost the most of the options tested. The trip totaled $33.50 and took about 25 minutes.
SEPTA was the least expensive option. A one-way trip from the airport to Suburban Station cost $5.80. However, it also took the longest, requiring nearly an hour when accounting for waiting for the train, the train ride itself and the walk to the Comcast Technology Center.
If City Council approves the proposed rideshare tax, riders will have to decide whether the added cost is still worth the convenience.
SEPTA fares and traditional taxi rates would not be affected by the proposed $1 rideshare fee.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.