McAllen International Airport in South Texas will soon charge Uber and Lyft rideshare users an additional $3 fee to help fund a massive terminal expansion. The city commission approved the measure Monday, citing the need to tap into a previously unserved revenue stream as passenger traffic exceeds 1 million annually.

Unlike other airport users who already pay various fees, rideshare passengers have been exempt from contributing to the airport's upkeep. The new fee is expected to generate approximately $4 million in debt service payments for the $176 million terminal expansion project, which includes new ticket counters, baggage claim areas, and enhanced security screening.

Airport Director Jeremy Santoscoy emphasized that the airport operates as an enterprise fund without municipal subsidies, relying entirely on user fees for maintenance and improvements. While District 2 Commissioner Joaquin "J.J." Zamora questioned whether McAllen should emulate larger cities' fee structures, his attempt to block the measure failed. The fee will be implemented gradually, increasing by $1 every 90 days until reaching the full amount, though an exact implementation date remains unspecified.