TLC AUCTIONS 168 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE INDIVIDUAL TAXICAB MEDALLIONS

On February 25, 2014, The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) successfully auctioned 168 new taxicab medallions specifically earmarked for use with wheelchair accessible vehicles. This brought the number of New York City medallion taxicabs to 13,605, and the number of taxicabs capable of offering ramp entry service to wheelchair users to 601. In December 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law that authorized the TLC to auction 2,000 new taxicab medallion licenses of which these are the latest to be added.

“Once again, we have seen a tremendous expression of enthusiasm in taxi medallion ownership,” said TLC Chief Operating Officer Conan Freud. “These medallions will bring much needed additional service to a city that continues to value quality taxicab service, while enhancing the transportation options for persons with disabilities. This auction also very tangibly illustrates the confidence this industry and its members have in the continued vitality of New York City.”

The auction bid opening event involved the public opening of sealed bids that were submitted to the TLC between February 20 and February 25, 2014. The amounts of each bid were read aloud and processed by a team of specially trained TLC staff members. Two large screens flashed the ranking of the bids allowing prospective medallion owners to monitor their progress and ultimately determine whether they were successful in their effort. The bid opening took place at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Thirty-two ADDITIONAL Accessible Minifleet Medallions were offered for sale, in lots of two through the receipt of sealed competitive bids in March 2014. The TLC received bids in person on March 19, 20, 21 and 24, 2014, from 9:00 A.M. through 12:00 Noon at its offices at 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004. These bids were publicly opened on March 25, 2014, commencing at 11:00 A.M. at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007. TLC’s offices and the auction facility are always wheelchair accessible.

(Results of the March 25th medallion sale were not available in time for publication in the April 2014 issue of TLC Magazine.)

PLEASE NOTE:
THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ARE TENTATIVE AND UNOFFICIAL, PENDING CONFIRMATION AND PROCESSING

TENTATIVE RESULTS

A list of all tentative winning bidders will be made available on the TLC’s web site www.nyc.gov/taxi.

NEED A RIDE, NEW YORK CITY? TLC LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY CAR SERVICE "BASE FINDER"

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) today launched a new on line Livery (or Car Service) "Base Finder" to help New Yorkers find the TLC licensed service provider nearest, or otherwise most convenient to them. It will also convey to riders the location of bases that have Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles affiliated with them for ready dispatch.

The intuitive new service, available on the TLCs web site at www.NYC.GOV/Taxi, is accessed via the Passenger Information link on the left side of the home screen;

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/passenger.shtml

or reachable more directly at:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/dataset/FHV-Bases-031714/v52x-36fy?firstRun=true.

"The 'Base Finder' function allows the riding public to use their geographic location to find the safe, licensed livery services that are most convenient to them," said the TLC's Chief Operating Officer, Conan Freud. "By mapping these bases, people can see where they are in relation to themselves, as well as to each other, which lets people make better, more geographically informed decisions about which services they want to use."

INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-08

UPGRADE TO AIRPORT DISPATCH OPERATIONS FOR YELLOW MEDALLION TAXICABS

CABS MUST HAVE RFID DECALS BY APRIL 14, 2014 TO SERVICE NYC AIRPORTS

The operator of John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and La Guardia (LGA) airports – the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is in the process of upgrading its taxi dispatch system at both airports.

The new dispatch system will utilize Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) decals, similar to barcode decals, to better identify taxicabs at the airports to make dispatching them to specific terminals quicker and more efficient.

Beginning March 4, PANYNJ, through its taxi dispatch contractor, Gateway Group One, will begin affixing the RFID decals to the interior of windshields of all taxis entering the taxi hold lots at JFK and LGA. These new decals will be required for any taxis to be dispatched from JFK or LGA.

Medallion owners should inform drivers that the PANYNJ or Gateway Group One personnel will begin affixing the RFID decals and that drivers must, as of April 14, 2014, have a decal in order to get a fare from LGA or JFK airport. The TLC will also send messages to drivers via the driver information monitor.

The new automated system will make the dispatching process quicker and ensure that taxis are dispatched to terminals where demand is highest.

Gateway Group One will set up stations at both JFK and LGA for decal installation. These decal tagging stations will be open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the taxi hold at both airports.

Taxi owners can call the following airport hotlines to find out more about the RFID decal tagging station locations and schedule:

• 1-866-296-2238 (LGA) and

• 1-800-695-0201 (JFK).

INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-11

TLC RELEASES RFI FOR VEHICLE "BLACK BOXES" TO SUPPORT VISION ZERO

In coordination with the NYPD, DOT, other City agencies and members of the for-hire industries, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) is exploring initiatives to work toward the City’s “Vision Zero” goal of zero traffic fatalities. One initiative the TLC is currently exploring is the usefulness and feasibility of “black box” recording devices which record driver behavior as tools to reduce driving behaviors that lead to collisions. To that end, the TLC announced its distribution of a Request for Information (RFI) to learn more about this technology.

The RFI invites input from the public, safety experts, individuals with legal or legislative expertise, equipment or software makers, black box users, and participants in TLC regulated industries to respond to questions on topics including:

• Current uses of black boxes
  
  
• Effectiveness of black boxes
  
  
• Business models for black boxes
  
  
• Challenges associated with using black boxes
  
  
• Legislative or regulatory action surrounding black boxes
  
  
• Black box features, costs, and relationship with the rest of the vehicle
  
  
• Data transmission, processing, and analytics
  
  
• Privacy and security
  

The RFI is available at:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/tlc_black_box_rfi_final.pdf

TLC invites interested parties to submit information regarding one, several, or all topics.

TLC requests submission of all information or suggestions by March 31, 2014 and appreciates the many parties who are working together on the City’s efforts to eliminate traffic fatalities.

INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-12

STATEN ISLAND LICENSING OFFICE RELOCATION

On March 5, 2014, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced that its Staten Island licensing office, which had been temporarily located at Staten Island Borough Hall due to Hurricane Sandy, was closed as of Thursday, March 6, 2014 while the agency prepared for the reopening of its Licensing Office at 209 Bay Street. The 209 Bay Street License Office is now open effective March 24, 2014.

© 2014 TLC Magazine Online, Inc.