As Commuters Opt For Uber And Lyft Over Public Transport, A New Solution In Chicago

A new report says ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are contributing to traffic congestion in the Boston area, as many young commuters opt out of taking public transit. This could mean trouble for the MBTA and for Boston's roadways.

But there are some cities seeking creative solution to similar problems. Public transportation has also suffered from the rise of ride-hailing services in Chicago.

But now, the Chicago Transit Authority will begin using the revenue from a 15 cent tax on Uber and Lyft to fund improvements to CTA infrastructure. The CTA says the project will shave off three minutes on typical trips on the city's four busiest rail lines.

Zeninjor Enwemeka, covers tech and culture as part of WBUR's Bostonomix team. She tweets @Zeninjor.

Brian Steele, vice president of communications and marketing for the Chicago Transit Authority. He tweets @brianksteele.