NEWS

TLC LAUNCHES NEW GROUP RIDE STAND AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT TERMINALS

New Service is Part of Mayor Bloomberg’s Plan To Enhance Transit Options in New York City

Following a brief pre-launch testing period, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) inaugurated a new group ride service stand at the Marine Air and Delta Shuttle Terminals at LaGuardia Airport.

The new yellow taxi group ride stand at the Marine Air and Delta Shuttle Terminals will serve passengers between the hours of 7 and 10 a.m. and 4 and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Passengers would pay a flat fare of $22 per person for rides with two passengers, or $18 per person for rides with three passengers for taxicab rides from the group ride stand location to drop-off points bounded by 59th Street to the north, 35th Street to the south, 8th Avenue to the west and 2nd Avenue to the east. Drivers will not be able to pick up additional passengers along the way.
As with all yellow taxicab rides, passengers will have the ability to pay their group ride fare by either cash or credit/debit card.

“This stand seemed like a natural place for us to launch group ride service, as many people already share rides from our airports. This program standardizes the experience in a way that benefits the passenger as much as it does both the driver and our environment,” said TLC Commissioner David Yassky. “We encourage taxi riders to give our existing stands a try as we continue to look for opportunities to build on the group riding concept throughout city.”

Further information on the Group Ride Stand is available on the TLC’s web site at www.nyc.gov/taxi.

STATEMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN TAXICAB BOARD OF TRADE (MTBOT) REGARDING THE DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT AFFIRMING THE LOWER COURT’S RULING AGAINST THE TLC’S HYBRID TAXI RULES

MTBOT applauds the Court’s decision blocking the Taxi and Limousine Commission from financially punishing taxicab owners who operate non-hybrid taxicabs by reducing their lease caps by $15 per shift which would have amounted to a 65% to 75% reduction in profits.

After exhausting efforts to compromise with the Taxi and Limousine Commission on achieving greater fuel efficiency in the New York City taxicab fleet, in the summer of 2008, MTBOT was compelled to litigate against the TLC’s rules requiring all taxis to achieve 25 miles per gallon by October 1, 2008 and 30 miles per gallon by October 1, 2009. MTBOT won that case in the United States District Court for the Southern District on grounds that it violated the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and the Clean Air Act.

Rather than appealing, in late 2008, the TLC introduced a new set of Rules that would have reduced the lease cap for owners of non-hybrid taxicabs by a total $15 per shift. MTBOT litigated, and again won the case in the same federal court on the grounds that the new “disincentive rules” amounted to a “de facto” mandate. The TLC appealed that ruling which was affirmed by the Second Circuit today.

MTBOT views today’s decision as an opportunity to work with the Taxi and Limousine Commission on achieving a taxi fleet that is safe, durable, affordable and fuel efficient. While a great deal of attention has been paid to the “taxi of tomorrow,” New Yorkers need a better “taxi of today.” The Crown Victoria, the most prevalent taxicab on city streets, has been a safe, durable, roomy and affordable workhorse of the industry for decades. However, we need to maintain all of these important qualities necessary for safely moving nearly a million people a day, but also make our cabs more fuel efficient.

Sadly, the existing hybrid models have proven to be too small and not built for rigorous, commercial 24/7 taxi use. We need to follow the lead of other major cities like Boston which has recently approved more fuel-efficient purpose-built taxicabs like the Ford Transit Connect and open a new chapter in taxi service for New York.

For additional information please contact:
Michael Woloz
212-437-7373
646-382-7171