 NEWS
MAYOR
BLOOMBERG AND TLC COMMISSIONER DAUS ANNOUNCE INCREASE IN ALTERNATIVE
FUEL MEDALLIONS FOR CITY TAXI CABS
Increase
in Alternative Fuel Medallions Means Cleaner, Greener
Taxicabs for City Streets
Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg and Taxi and Limousine Chairman/Commissioner Matthew
W. Daus today announced an increase in the number of Alternative Fuel
Medallions for City taxicabs.
The
Medallion sale scheduled for next month will now include 254 alternative
fuel and hybrid medallions, up from a previously scheduled 62. The Alternative
Fuel Medallion may be applied to TLC approved vehicles that use either
compressed natural gas (CNG) or hybrid fuel technology. Vehicles using
alternative fuel or hybrid technology consume less gasoline and have
very low emissions.
More
than 3,000 of the City's light duty vehicles are hybrids or use alternative
fuel. The Mayor made the announcement at the New York League of Conservation
Voters Spring Gala in Chelsea.
"Clean
air and fuel efficient cabs are in the best interests of all New Yorkers,"
said Mayor Bloomberg. "Alternative fuel and hybrids taxis are three
times more fuel efficient than regular taxis and have close to zero
emissions. By encouraging alternative fuel and hybrid taxis, New Yorkers
get cleaner air, drivers have lower fuel costs and we all become less
reliant on foreign oil."
Currently,
10 car models using this technology have been approved for use as taxi
cabs by the TLC including the:
•
Toyota Prius
•
Highlander Hybrid
•
Camry Hybrid
•
Honda Civic Hybrid
•
Accord Hybrid
•
Ford Escape Hybrid
•
Saturn Vue Hybrid
•
Lexus RX400H
•
Mercury Mariner Hybrid.
"Making 254 alternative fuel medallions available in the next and
final auction is a bold and positive step that will reduce emissions
while providing significant advances in fuel economy for drivers,"
said Commissioner Daus. "We believe there will be tremendous interest
in these medallions, and we are looking forward to the auction in June."
"The
Mayor has taken a great step towards turning yellow cabs green,"
said Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director of the New York League of Conservation
Voters.
DOI ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE AWARDING OF THE NYC MEDALLION TAXICAB TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS CONTRACT
ROSE
GILL HEARN, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation
(DOI), announced today the results of an investigation regarding the
allegation of possible fraud in the awarding of the NYC Medallion Taxicab
Technology Enhancements (Taxicab Enhancement Program) contract. DOI's
investigation found the allegation of fraud to be unsubstantiated.
DOI
began its investigation as a result of a referral from the Comptroller's
Office of a complaint it received from one of the Taxicab Enhancement
Program losing bidders. The allegation was that a consultant who did
some work for TLC on the Taxicab Enhancement Program contract was also
employed by one of the companies who successfully competed for the Taxicab
Enhancement Program contract.
Through
witness interviews and the examination of various records, DOI established
that the TLC consultant's work on the Taxicab Enhancement Program contract
did not include the evaluation or selection of the awardees, contrary
to the complainant's allegations. In addition, through examination of
phone and bank records, among other things, DOI found no evidence that
the consultant was employed by or had a business or consultant relationship
with the winning bidder. Based on its investigation, DOI found that
the claim of fraud was without merit.
DOI
has no view, position or partiality with respect to the Taxicab Enhancement
Program or any of the bidders or awardees.
DOI
Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said, "I believe the integrity of
the procurement process is of paramount concern to the City, which is
why these allegations were taken very seriously. I am today announcing
that after conducting witness interviews under oath and closely examining
TLC records, as well as subpoenaed telephone and bank records, DOI found
no evidence of misconduct in the bidding and/or awarding process of
the Taxicab Enhancement Program contract."
Background
on the Taxicab Enhancement Program:
In
March 2004, TLC's Board of Commissioners mandated the implementation
of certain technology based service enhancements including:
- Electronic
Trip-Sheet Data Collection, which would eliminate written trip data
logs;
- Text
Message Capability, which would allow the TLC to communicate with
drivers more effectively and recover
riders' lost property;
- Credit/Debit
Card Acceptance, which would require all taxis to accept major credit
and debit cards for payment of fares; and
- Passenger
Information Monitors, which would display NYC information and allow
passengers to track their trips in the taxi's back seat.
In
March 2005, an RFP was issued to seek bids from companies with regard
to these enhancements. Out of the 12 companies that responded to the
RFP, the TLC's Project Evaluation Committee selected five companies
based on the strength of their proposals to be authorized by the TLC
to provide Electronic Trip-Sheet Data Collection, Text Message Capability,
Credit/Debit Card Acceptance, and Passenger Information Monitors to
the 12,779 medallion taxicabs in NYC.
This
investigation was conducted by DOI's Inspector General for TLC Timothy
Crowe, DOI's Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs Marjorie Landa, and
DOI Investigator Jared Feirstein. Criminal complaints are accusations.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
ROSE
GILL HEARN
COMMISSIONER
The City of New York Department of Investigation
80 MAIDEN LANE
NEW YORK, NY 10038
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