SFO to relocate Uber, Lyft pickups, aiming to improve airport traffic flow

Aiming to address traffic congestion caused by ridesharing services, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) today announced that it will relocate where Uber, Lyft and Wingz pick up passengers arriving from domestic flights.

Starting Monday, June 3, all domestic pickups will shift to the top level of the domestic hourly parking garage, according to SFO. However, Uber, Lyft and Wingz drop offs will continue to occur at upper-level departure curbside areas.

International Terminal pickups will remain at the center island of the departure level roadway, SFO officials said.

To accommodate the new activity at the top floor of the garage, structural improvements are being made, including new loading zones to create curbside-style pickup areas and enhanced safety areas for waiting passengers, according to SFO. In the future, enhanced canopies, automated sliding doors, parklets, shelters and seating are planned.

Since 2017, SFO says it’s been trying to address traffic congestion with the aim of achieving an average speed of 15 mph around terminal roadways. Part of that is by shifting at least 45 percent of  pickup activity by Uber, Lyft and Wingz away from terminal roadways according to SFO. Last summer, Uber Pool, Express Pool and Lyft Shared services were relocated to the Domestic Parking Garage. And this past March, Uber X and Lyft began offering $3 discounts for pickups in the Airport’s Domestic Hourly Garage. Those measures only diverted about 21 percent of those ridesharing services from terminal roadways, according to SFO.