Kalispell Chamber embraces ride-sharing bill as entrepreneurial opportunity

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Joe Unterreiner said he’s looking forward to the potential expansion of ride-sharing transportation services around the Flathead Valley.

The Montana Public Service Commission this week unanimously approved the final specifications to a bill that allows ride sharing companies such as Uber to operate in the state.

Gov. Steve Bullock signed Senate Bill 396 into law last spring, a landmark bill designed for ride-sharing companies to apply and operate under a new Class-E license.

Ride-sharing companies, where drivers use their personal vehicles, have been a growing national trend in recent years, even though Montana taxi and limousine companies have been able to block their entry into the local markets.

“We’ve seen license cab companies struggle in this valley; we’re so spread out,” Unterreiner said. “[SB 396] may help fill the need we’ve seen in our surveys here.”

Unterreiner said surveys by local consumers show a public request for transportation services from Glacier Park International Airport to Glacier National Park, access to communities and cities throughout the area and more shuttle availability between hotels and local ski resorts.

“I think it creates an entrepreneurial opportunity for people to initiate their own transportation business in the valley,” he said. “We’ll be interested to see if this can help some of the transportation needs for businesses and residents in the valley.”

Before SB 396, ride-sharing companies had to apply through the Public Service Commission and prove that the service was a necessity for the local community and that it wouldn’t create competition for other services in the market. Now the commission is only required to determine if the business is fit for operation.

“There will be some wrinkles to iron out once this rule is put into practice, but the commission will continually look for ways that we can improve these regulations to ensure an even playing field for transportation services in Montana,” Public Service Commission Chairman Brad Johnson in a prepared statement.

Although the new regulations are not yet in effect, companies that want to apply for a certificate can already do so with the commission. Uber, a national ride-sharing company, has been the first to apply for a certificate to operate in Montana.

The final changes go into effect on Aug. 27, according to the press release.