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TLC UNVEILS LIVERY STAND PILOT PLAN; INVITES PARTICIPANTS On December 1, 2009 the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) invited all interested parties to submit a request to participate in a pilot program to test the operation of livery stands at select locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City.The goal of the program is to provide the riding public more prompt, efficient and safe livery services in locations that are under served by yellow taxicabs. The program aims to meet the goals set by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in his 2009 State of the City Address and in his 2009 Plan to Reform Mass Transit. In each case the Mayor directed the TLC to experiment with pilot programs such as this one, and others that facilitate group and shared ride scenarios, all of which are in various stages of development. As recently announced by the Commission, the Livery Stand Pilot Program will designate livery stands at privately owned locations throughout the five boroughs allowing owners or operators of private property at locations within shopping centers, Business Improvement Districts, and other well trafficked locations to contract with livery bases to provide transportation services on-site via a “satellite base.” This pilot program will test the use of licensed livery vehicles and livery stands to enhance service to passengers providing for more prompt, efficient and reliable dispatched service from satellite base locations. “Tens of thousands of livery rides take place each day in the boroughs of New York City,” said TLC Commissioner and Chairman MatthewW. Daus.“But there are times when calling ahead and prearranging a livery ride from certain locations is inconvenient and promotes the temptation for passengers to use illegal and unsafe forms of transportation.This pilot program will create a new service in all the boroughs that combines the convenience of hailing a taxicab with the safety and accountability that are the TLC’s primary goals.” On May 28, 2009, the Commission voted to approve this pilot program without limit to the number of participants; it is anticipated that there will be multiple locations citywide with a tentative goal of at least two stands in each borough. Participation proposals will be reviewed by the TLC in accordance with the standards of review and approval stated in TLC Rule 14-04. For more information, see: http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/rules_pilot_program_approved.pdf. The deadline for the receipt of pilot program proposals, suggestions or ideas is January 15, 2010.The Notice of Opportunity to Participate may be viewed at: www.nyc.gov/taxi.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced that, due to the continued impact of the economic downturn on Black Car industry revenue, as well as its subsequent negative effect on Black Car vehicle financing, the implementation and enforcement of regulations requiring that all Black Cars being placed into service as of January 1, 2010 achieve a city rating of 25 miles per gallon will be deferred for a period of six months. As stated above, the enforcement of provisions set forth in Section 609(a) of TLC For-Hire Vehicle Rules (“Black Car Vehicle Specifications”; effective June 22, 2008) which had been previously deferred by one year to January 1, 2010 will be deferred for an additional six months modifying the compliance date from January 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010. TLC rules implementing the mandatory retirement of vehicles used as Black Cars have likewise been deferred.
Following extensive outreach and assistance to stakeholders in the For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) industry in preparation for compliance with the comprehensive FHV Rules passed last April, the TLC announced that these rules will be vigorously enforced during the month of January, 2010. You should make certain that you are following all of the new rules. Some of the new requirements are: All For-HireVehicles (except Luxury Limousines) must have TWO new TLC Temporary license stickers affixed to the side\opera windows of the vehicle in addition to the permit currently affixed to the front windshield. The Temporary decals will eventually be replaced with permanent decals displaying base and vehicle specific information. All Livery/Community Car Service Vehicles must have base information (base name, license # and telephone #) on the outside of the car — either on both sides or on the rear. All Livery For-Hire Vehicles must have the FHV Passenger’s Bill of Rights in a protective cover behind the front passenger seat. All For-Hire Vehicles must have the driver’s FHV license displayed where passengers can see it. Livery/community cars must have the driver’s FHV license in a protective holder behind the driver’s seat. If you have any questions about how to obtain the Livery Passenger’s Bill of Rights please visit the TLC’s Web site at: http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/ind_livery_rights.shtml. For information on required stickers call the TLC Call Center at 212-227-6324, or see the Industry Notice located at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/industry_notice_09_16.pdf. These are just a few of the new For-Hire Vehicle rules. Please visit our Web site to review all of the new requirements at www.nyc.gov/tlc under “New For-Hire Vehicle Rules”. MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON UNLICENSED GROUND TRANSPORTATION HUSTLERS AT JFK AND LAGUARDIA AIRPORTS RESULTS IN 18 ARRESTS FACE UP TO 90 DAYS IN JAIL UNDER NEW LEGISLATION Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown joined by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Christopher O. Ward and New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew W. Daus, announced that a joint crackdown on unlicensed taxi drivers who illegally hustle passengers at the City’s two major airports has resulted in 18 individuals being charged with the illegal solicitation of ground transportation. The crackdown comes in the wake of Governor David A. Paterson signing a bill into law last month which increased penalties for unlawfully soliciting ground transportation at an airport. On October 9, 2009, Governor Paterson signed legislation elevating Section 1220-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Law – Unlawful Solicitation of Ground Transportation – from a violation to a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250. District Attorney Brown said, “I commend Governor Paterson and the State Legislature – particularly Senator Martin Marlavé Dilan and Assemblyman Jeffrion L.Aubry, the bill’s sponsors – for their efforts in helping to curtail illegal – and oftentimes overly aggressive – solicitation of passengers at our airports. For too long, unregulated taxis and unscrupulous drivers, who are not properly licensed and who do not carry appropriate insurance, have put passengers at serious risk.This legislation should go a long way toward putting an end to the days when airport hustlers accepted paying a minimal fine simply as a cost of doing business.” The District Attorney continued, “Each year, more than seventy million passengers travel through JFK and LaGuardia Airports, many of whom are visitors from other states and countries and are unaware of ground transportation options when they arrive at the terminal. Often, these passengers are unfamiliar with New York prices and/or U.S. currency and, as a result, are charged exorbitant rates to be driven even the shortest of distances. As tourism, one of New York’s most revenue producing industries continues to grow, it is vitally important to our economic health that we provide a safe and welcoming environment at our airports.” Port Authority chairman Anthony Coscia said, “ The arrests are one part of the Port Authority’s effort to remove taxi hustlers from our airports.With the new law in place our enforcement has increased and taxi hustlers should be forewarned: this is the end of the road.” TLC Commissioner Daus said, “Our enforcement actions have amply illustrated the value of the recent anti-hustling legislation in protecting arriving travelers from predatory illegal for-hire operators. As we had anticipated when we worked together with the taxicab and for-hire industries for the law’s passage, passengers are safer today because of it, and legitimate operators enjoy a level playing field. Airport hustlers now know that they will face prosecution to the fullest extent of a law with provisions that have true and meaningful repercussions.” According to the criminal charges the defendants illegally offered arriving passengers at JFK and LaGuardia Airports their services as ground transportation for hire charging fees of $25 to $40 for destinations in Brooklyn and from between $35 and $80 for destinations in Manhattan. In most cases, the defendants previously had been warned not to enter or remain in the airports for the purpose of offering ground transportation services The defendants were arrested and variously charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services, third degree criminal trespass and trespass. If convicted they each face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250. District Attorney Brown cited two recent airport hustling cases that clearly highlighted the need to elevate Section of 1220-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Laws as well as the need to crack down on unlicensed taxi drivers who solicit unwitting passengers at our airports:
The investigation was conducted by the Port Authority Police Department under the supervision of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko. The cases are being prosecuted by Catherine C. Kane, Chief of the District Attorney’s Airport Investigations Unit of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau under the supervision of Gerard A. Brave, Bureau Chief, and Mark L. Katz, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Peter A. Crusco, Executive Assistant District Attorney, Investigations Division, and Linda M. Cantoni, Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney. It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. TLC RELEASES “TAXI OF TOMORROW” REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE ONE TAXI – CLEANER, SAFER, AND ACCESSIBLE – FOR NEW YORK CITY The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced today that the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will be issuing on the TLC’s behalf a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Taxi of Tomorrow project. This is an effort to upgrade the existing taxi fleet to better meet the needs of passengers, drivers, owners, and the City as a whole. The release of this RFP is the culmination of a long series of initiatives that has included Taxi ’07.Taxi '07 was a design oriented celebration of the NY’s taxicab centennial which featured an impressive exhibition of prototypical future taxicabs at the Jacob Javits Center as well as a Request For Information (RFI) that asked the automotive manufacturing community the critical question of “what is possible?”. The Taxi of Tomorrow project brings together a number of Bloomberg Administration goals such as increasing the number of fuel efficient taxicabs and wheelchair accessible taxicabs as well as the enhancement of passenger comfort amenities. This RFP represents a new way forward for bringing taxicabs to the market. Today’s taxi fleet is made up of 16 different vehicles supported by 9 manufacturers. None of the vehicles currently approved as taxis were designed by the original manufacturers as taxis; rather they have all been outfitted (“hacked up”) by third party upfitters, garages and meter shops to conform to TLC’s taxicab specifications. But these current vehicles fall short of meeting the needs of stakeholders: there is no one vehicle that is clean, accessible, and comfortable and meets the needs of a New York City taxicab. The goal of the RFP is to seek a highly qualified manufacturer that has the knowledge and practical experience necessary to bring the TLC’s and its stakeholders’ vision of the next generation of taxicab to fruition representing all the stated qualities below:
The RFP also contemplates modifications of, or technologies that could replace the traditional partition which is now an important component of driver safety. While the current taxicab partition design has contributed to the fact that New York City is among the safest taxi cities in the nation, it is several decades old and we want to see what new ideas a competitive process might generate. The goal here is to explore a range of possible solutions that would have the effect of improving driver safety while maintaining interior space and facilitating more effective driver/passenger communications. Successful concepts will also maintain that special iconic quality that makes a New York City taxicab the world famous symbol that it is today. While many dozens of vehicle models have served as taxicabs in the industry’s 102 year history, there has always been something almost undefinably special about the New York City taxicab. This RFP seeks to not only define the undefinable, but to successfully build it into the taxicab that will carry us into the future. Respondents are also encouraged to propose ways in which the City may benefit through a strategic partnership with the Taxi of Tomorrow’s ultimate creator. The TLC is very interested in learning from respondents what they envision. Such opportunities could take the form of unique partnerships on major marketing campaigns, or infrastructure projects to support taxicab services to offset the costs associated with bringing the Taxi of Tomorrow to the streets of New York City. Prospective respondents can access the RFP through the TLC’s Web site at www.nyc.gov/taxi.The pre-proposal conference will be held on January 14, 2010 at 10 a.m. EST at 100 Gold Street, 8th floor, New York City.The due date for proposal submission is 2 p.m. EST on March 26, 2010. The TLC anticipates the conclusion of the selection process to be followed by the signing of a contract in October 2010, and that the first vehicles would be available for service no later than October 31, 2014. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was created in 1971 and is the agency responsible for the regulation and licensing of almost 200,000 licensees including 13,237 medallion taxicabs and more than 48,000 medallion taxicab drivers. It is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and limousine regulatory body in the United States. To find out more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations and procedures, we encourage you to visit our official Web site at www.nyc.gov/taxi or call 311 in New York City, or 212-NEW-YORK from outside of New York City. |
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