Idaho Falls airport negotiates agreement with Turo to regulate shared‑vehicle pickups and collect fees

Airport Director Ian Turner told the council the city has been monitoring peer‑to‑peer car sharing (Turo) operating in Idaho Falls without a formal airport agreement and that the airport began negotiations in July after collecting data showing activity on city property.

Turner said the draft agreement — developed in September and October and negotiated over recent months — would allow Turo transactions to occur in paid airport parking lots, require shared‑vehicle owners/operators to pay parking fees, and obligate Turo to contribute a 10% privilege fee on gross revenue for airport operational expenses. He described the agreement as establishing Turo as a valid ground‑transportation provider and as giving the airport jurisdiction to address complaints and curb operations that previously happened on city streets or in tenant lots.

Turner told the council he was conservative with revenue estimates but expected at least $6,000 per month and potentially up to $10,000 per month from the shared‑vehicle transaction fees; he also cautioned that some airports have captured more than early estimates suggest. He added that staff received a signed agreement from Turo the morning of the meeting and were preparing for a January start.

Turner framed the Turo agreement as both a revenue opportunity and an operational control measure to keep transactions off curbside and tenant parking areas and to create parity with rental car operators by instituting privilege fees.

"We're authorizing them to utilize our paid parking lots," Turner said. "There will be a shared vehicle transaction that occurs within the parking lot... and Turo will... contribute that 10% privilege fee for that gross revenue to the airport."