Maryland's economy is on the upswing. Just last week, the Department of Labor announced that Maryland employers added 6,100 jobs in February, making it one of the largest month-to-month gains in the last 12 months. As Gov. Hogan has said, Maryland is "Open for Business." We must make sure to keep it that way.
As state legislators, one of our greatest priorities is to foster an economic climate that enables this progress. We want Marylanders to take advantage of all kinds of opportunities to better themselves and their families. One of those new opportunities that we're passionate about fostering is ridesharing because we know the positive impact it is having on the lives of millions of people around the globe.
Ridesharing is a new transportation alternative that has been embraced by thousands of consumers and entrepreneurs right here in Maryland. Ridesharing has transformed the way people get around and make a living. It uses a technology that did not exist even just a few short years ago, and so the rules that govern this innovative model simply were not developed. But today, dozens of cities and states across the country have recognized the true value of ridesharing and the tremendous economic and social impact it has on diverse communities. With this recognition, officials in other states and jurisdictions have crafted new laws to make certain ridesharing remains a long-term option in the transportation marketplace.
We, too, realize ridesharing's importance to Marylanders. This is why we have introduced a regulatory framework that would create a permanent home for Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing options across the entire state.
The presence of ridesharing in Maryland has helped increase the momentum and economic growth we have witnessed — and it will only continue to propel us forward. In the three years that Uber has been in Maryland, it has generated over 20,000 jobs in the state. In 2014 alone, Uber's Maryland-based driver-partners earned $113.2 million, generating over $7.3 million in implied tax revenue. And these drivers are projected to generate over a billion dollars a year by 2018, much of which will be reinvested back into our local economies.
Beyond the evident economic impact, Uber and other ridesharing alternatives have reshaped Maryland's transportation ecosystem, providing access to safe, convenient and low-cost rides where other options simply weren't available. Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft are making Maryland's roads safer. With platforms that have introduced a new level of transparency and accountability, setting the standard for consumer protections with extensive commercial insurance coverage and rigorous driver screening processes, Uber and Lyft are helping citizens travel more safely and comfortably than ever before. Specifically, Uber's commitment to create 1 million jobs for women is evidence that ridesharing is a viable and safe opportunity for women to start their own businesses and earn a living.
Whether it's helping to reduce the rate of drunk driving, as a MADD study recently confirmed fostering student-driven innovations through a University of Maryland partnership or empowering urban entrepreneurs, the effects and benefits that Uber and other ridesharing options have had in our state are palpable.
It's time for Maryland to confirm that we stand for innovation, choice and opportunity by passing ridesharing legislation that protects consumer safety and ensures a strong economic future for our residents and visitors. Our neighbors in the District of Columbia and Virginia have already taken that step to create permanent homes for ridesharing. We urge our fellow lawmakers to help us join the ranks of the many other jurisdictions that have implemented a uniform set of ridesharing rules.
We owe it to the people of Maryland to ensure they have the freedom of choice and freedom of opportunity they deserve. We ask our colleagues in the state legislature to listen to their constituents, support innovation and vote in favor economic prosperity by passing ridesharing legislation this General Assembly session. Let's make sure that the Free State lives up to its name.
Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, is a Maryland state senator; his email is bill@billforbaltimore.com. Kathy Szeliga, a Republican, is a Maryland state delegate; her email is kathy.szeliga@house.state.md.us.