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by Matthew W. Daus, Esq.
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IATR HOSTS DELEGATION FROM MIDDLE EAST, ASIA AND EUROPE IN NYC & CHICAGO
UNIVERSAL TAXI & LIMO APP EXPERIENCE SHARED WITH TRANSPORTATION REGULATORS AND INDUSTRY OPERATORS GEARING UP FOR THE IATR’S 2014 NEW ORLEANS CONFERENCE
The International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) was pleased to host the UITP Taxi Working Group (International Association of Public Transport) in June 2014 for an extensive work study tour of the regulatory systems of New York City and Chicago.
The UITP was founded in 1885 when Europe’s 50 main tramway operators came together in Brussels, Belgium to create the “Union Internationale de Tramways/Internationaler Permanenter Strassenbahn-Verein”. The association, now known as UITP (International Association of Public Transport), was thus born with 63 member companies from nine
countries. Throughout the years, UITP has grown to a worldwide network that brings together public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport mode operators to promote sustainable mobility solutions.
The UITP Taxi Working Group was established in June 2011 in Dubai. The following year, at the International Taxi Conference in Abu Dhabi, the Taxi Working Group gained momentum and started to attract interest from the taxi sector across the Middle East and North Africa region. The IATR participated in the Abu Dhabi conference, and has, since that time, forged a close working relationship and partnership with UITP. Currently, the Taxi Working Group has 3 subworking groups mainly working on taxi vehicle specifications, fare management and statistics.
The delegation visit to New York City and Chicago was a jointly sponsored project of the IATR and UITP and included transportation regulators from several countries in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The guests included government and franchise operators from: Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE; Turkey; Singapore; Malaysia; Finland; Lebanon; and Belgium.
UITP Taxi Working Group Chairman Abdulla Sultan Al Sabbagh (4th from left) joins other IATR and UITP delegates from the Middle East, Asia and Europe on its visit to the Chicago Business and Consumer Protection Agency (BACP), and new BACP Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek (4th from right), IATR President Matthew Daus (3rd from right) and Windels Marx transportation legal analyst Brook Taye (2nd from left).
In New York City, the law firm of Windels Marx hosted the delegates for an informative one day conference covering various topics.
- Matthew W. Daus, IATR President & former NYC Taxi Commissioner, provided an overview of the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission and its regulated markets;
- Jason Mischel, Esq., former Disabilities Commissioner for the Mayor of NYC, discussed wheelchair accessible taxi issues in NYC and the United States;
- Phil Hom, Esq., former counsel to the NYC Council Transportation Committee, presented NYC Council’s role in transportation regulation and current legislative issues; and
- Pasqualino (Pat) Russo, former NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) Chief Judge, highlighted the agency’s regulatory process and Adjudications (judicial system).
On the second day, the delegates travelled to the NYC TLC to meet and receive a presentation from the new Commissioner/Chair herself, Meera Joshi. They toured Manhattan headquarters, and visited the tribunal at the NYC Office of Administrative Tribunals and Hearings (OATH) to observe live TLC hearings. Then the delegates travelled to Woodside, Queens to visit the inspection facility where taxicabs are inspected thrice annually, as well as boro taxis and for-hire vehicles.
The delegates then traveled to Chicago to visit the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) office, which licenses and regulates taxis and for-hire vehicles in Chicago, and attended a presentation by the new BACP Commissioner, Maria Guerra Lapacek. The BACP presentation discussed:
- the vital elements of taxi regulation in Chicago,
- taxi and driver licensing process,
- the current state of Chicago’s taxi medallion value and transfer requirements, and
- Chicago’s unique driver award initiative for outstanding service to the disabled community.
The delegates also visited local fleet operators, garages, and dispatch centers.
The delegates who represented regulatory agencies and who attended the NYC TLC presentation sessions were interested to learn more about the pioneering taxicab technologies in NYC, and the Taxicab Passenger Enhancements Project (T-PEP). During the question and answer session of the program they discussed in detail the structure of the E-hail pilot program, vehicle inspection frequency and insurance requirements.
The delegates also discussed local regulatory issues they are facing which focused on driver training and retention, vehicle age and inspection frequency, and over supply of taxi permits in their respective jurisdictions. Both NYC and Chicago regulators and operators highlighted ways in which delegates could alleviate some of their local issues.
The successful enforcement strategy against illegal taxi operators in NYC and Chicago and best practices on how to reduce the glut of taxicabs in major international cities
with the aim of improving quality of service was another important discussion point.
The delegates were also briefed how both NYC and Chicago are dealing with smartphone apps in the taxi and for-hire sectors and the different approaches that are implemented to regulate them. The delegates shared their unique experiences involving smartphone applications in the respective jurisdictions.
Delegates from Singapore highlighted how smartphone app operators launched their services without following regulations that are aimed at reducing illegal taxi operation. The Singapore regulators are reviewing the IATR’s model regulations and are currently persuading smartphone operators to only utilize licensed vehicles and drivers when responding for e-hail requests.
In Abu Dhabi, franchise operators discussed how the local regulatory agency launched its own app to limit the impacts of illegal smartphone app operators. The app allows passengers to order various types of for-hire vehicles from one single platform managed by the regulatory agency, TransAd. This is a very unique approach wherein the government itself treats the taxi industry as a public utility in which one universal app is deployed to provide extended coverage. By so doing, it shuts private industry out of the market to some extent.
Lebanon delegates shared how they launched their own industry created smartphone app before illegal operators entered the highly competitive taxi market. The approaches vary. However, it is encouraging to see that there are other ways to legally allow new technology without the effect of illegal disrupting other innovation.
Finally, there was an overwhelming consensuses among delegates that the trip to both cities was a success. Future visits were planed that will encompass more U.S. cities.
Many members of the UITP working group were existing IATR members and new prospective members. Several are planning to attend the upcoming IATR annual conference in New Orleans from September 22– 24.
The conference theme is a “New World Order for Ground Transportation Regulation”. The conference will focus on the latest regulatory trends and best practices in technology, accessibility, safety and regulatory management. Also, the IATR will be unveiling its first draft of proposed model regulations for accessibility, and will hold an international public hearing to solicit comments from regulators and stakeholders alike.
We are expecting several hundred attendees representing nearly 100 international cities, states, provinces, airports, and agencies involved in for-hire transportation. The program will also include extensive information about transportation technology company regulations, smartphone app disruption around the world and a debate for and against disruptive strategies.
For more information about the conference, the description of the proposed draft program, and to register to attend the 2014 conference please visit:
www.iatr.org/2014IATRConference.