 NEWS
TLC
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES REGULATIONS LEADING TO A CLEANER, GREENER NY TAXI FLEET
The
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) voted unanimously
to approve a regulation requiring that, beginning October 1, 2008, all
taxicabs coming into service (with the exception of accessible taxicabs)
must be capable of achieving a city mileage rating of 25 miles per gallon
(mpg). This regulation also provides that, one year later, as of October
2009, all new taxicabs vehicles must have a minimum city driving rating
of 30 mpg.
“The
Commission’s vote was one big step for the TLC, but it was also
a giant leap for the environment. This regulation – the first
of its kind anywhere – lays the groundwork for the cleanest, greenest
large city taxicab fleet in the world,” said TLC Commissioner
and Chairman Matthew W. Daus. “The necessary hybrid vehicles are
available, and they have performed well in the time they have been used
as New York City taxicabs – and that is no small accomplishment!
“The
bold steps taken by the TLC would not have been possible without Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff’s vision and
strong guidance in creating and furthering PlaNYC and its taxicab and
for-hire vehicle components. This new regulation, and its result of
an all hybrid taxicab fleet by 2012 put New York City in a leadership
position for both environmental responsibility as well as prudent transportation
regulation saving drivers a significant amount of money, reducing our
reliance on fossil fuels, and helping New Yorkers breathe easier.”
In
fact, hybrid-electric taxicabs, of which New York City now boasts 627
– more than any U.S. city – have performed exceptionally
during the three inspections each taxicab receives annually. Hybrid-electric
taxicabs have historically passed their initial inspections at a rate
of 85% as compared to the average 54% for Crown Victorias requiring
far fewer re-inspections. It is also true that the new regulation, when
fully phased in, will save vehicle owners between $4,000 and $11,000
per year in gasoline costs, an industry wide savings of as much as $140,000,000
per year.
In
order to ensure driver safety in the somewhat smaller hybrid vehicles,
the TLC recently fostered the development of an “L-shaped”
partition that will allow for maximum passenger and driver comfort while
still affording maximum protective abilities. As a result, the new regulations
also remove the previously existing exemption from the partition requirement
that had existed since the initial introduction of hybrid taxicabs in
October 2005.
NEW
ACCESSIBLE AND GREEN/CLEAN AIR MARKINGS ARE HERE!
All licensed medallion
taxicabs and licensed for-hire accessible and clean air vehicles must
display these new stickers for their first TLC inspection on or after
February 1, 2008.
http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/safety_emissions/accessible_clean_air_stickers.shtml
http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/safety_emissions/taxicab_logo_vehicles.shtml
Vehicle owners
will be able to purchase the stickers from authorized printers. Check
with your favorite meter shop to see when they will have the new stickers
ready to print.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/safety_emissions/accessible_clean_air_main.shtml
If you want to
print them yourself, please see information on how to become
an authorized printer.
TERMS AND
CONDITIONS FOR TAXI AND LIMOUSINE
COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION
http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/taxicab_logo_printer_mou.pdf
There are two (2)
stickers (one per vehicle side) in the sticker packages you
will receive. Printing details, sticker location and size are all specified
by TLC Rule. To view these rules, please refer to Taxicab Owner Rules
Chapter 1-35(b)-4&5 and For-Hire Vehicle Rules Chapter 6-12(F)-3&4.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/rules/rules.shtml
Office of the Deputy
Commissioner for Public Affairs
40 Rector Street, 5th Floor
New York NY 10006
Tel: 212-676-1013, Fax: 212-676-1101
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