After saying on Wednesday that he would fight for innovation, Mayor Bill Peduto announced this morning that state Sen. Wayne Fontana is preparing legislation int he state senate to permit the operation of rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber.

"State Sen. Wayne Fontana is set to introduce legislation to allow for operation of these innovative transportation systems and I support similar bipartisan efforts being introduced in the House," Peduto said in a statement. "In the interim I fully support a resolution being introduced by State Rep. Erin Molchany calling on the Public Utility Commission to issue provisional approvals for the companies Lyft and Uber to operate this weekend to alleviate pressing public safety concerns about drunk driving this holiday weekend."

The companies, who said they would be working this weekend despite the order, have been operating in the city since early this year despite threats from the state Public Utilities Commission that they would crack down on the services that provide rides to customers that are scheduled by a smartphone app. On Tuesday, however, the companies were ordered to cease operations by a panel of PUC administrative law judges.