NEWS

GROUP RIDE VEHICLE SERVICE TO BEGIN IN FOUR SERVICE AREAS IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS

Service to Offer New Transportation Mode For Communities with Limited Options

New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner/Chair David Yassky announced that one service area has begun to receive point-to-point shared Group Ride Vehicle service with the four remaining areas, all based around MTA bus routes that have been eliminated or significantly reduced, soon to follow.

Group Ride Vehicle service between the Kew Gardens Subway Station and Queens College began on September 13th with passengers paying a flat fare of $2 for rides within the service area (see service area maps).

Fares for shared ride service among specified pick up and drop off locations in other service areas which were scheduled to begin service on Monday, September 20, were also priced at $2. Vehicles will be clearly marked with the words “GROUP RIDE VEHICLE” on their exterior, and will have unique identifying decals (see photo at left) in several locations. There will also be identifying markings in each
vehicle’s interior.

Pick-up and drop-off locations will be marked with DOT provided signage. Additional drop-off locations within service areas may be requested by passengers and agreed to by drivers. The pilot program was originally announced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, TLC Commissioner David Yassky and Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn on June 22, 2010.

“The purpose of this program is to provide safe and reliable service in areas that have been impacted by the MTA’s service disruptions some of which were already challenged by
limited transportation options,” said Commissioner Yassky. “This is an exciting opportunity for the TLC to help introduce and test an entirely new kind of service that never before existed – one that we believe will help thousands of people get where they need to go in a safe and convenient way.”

The program will include a strong enforcement component in coordination with the NYPD.

GROUP RIDE VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM FACTS

What is the Group Ride Vehicle Pilot Program?

The Group Ride Vehicle Pilot Program was created to assist those commuters affected by the MTA’s discontinuation of a number of routes.

When were the routes decided? How many are there? Which routes were selected?

On July 15, 2010, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission approved the Group Ride Vehicle Pilot Project for ten service areas based on a number of discontinued MTA bus routes. The first five of the routes that were selected to receive the service were the:

• B23,
  
  
  
• B39,
  
  
  
• B71,
  
  
  
• Q74 and
  
  
  
• Q79.
  

The TLC has not yet selected any additional service areas.

What is the duration of this pilot program?

The pilot program’s duration will be one year from the date of its beginning.

When will the pilot program begin?

The Q74 service area went into operation on Monday, September 13; service areas based on the B23, B39, and Q79 bus routes went into operation on Monday, September 20; and service based on the former B71 began on September 27.

Where are those routes, who will operate them, what will their hours of operation be and how much will it cost?

• The former Q74 service area which began service on September 13 runs between Kew Gardens and Queens College, and is operated by Community Transportation Systems, Inc. The group ride vehicle will run:
  
  
  • weekdays from 6AM-10PM, making stops every 15 minutes during the rush hours of 6AM-10AM and 3PM-8PM, and 30 minutes at all other times; and
    
    
  • weekends from 6AM-8PM, making stops every 30 minutes. The fare for this service will be $2 per rider.
    
    
    
    
• The former B23 service area will run through Borough Park, Kensington and Flatbush starting on September 20, and will be operated by Sunset Service Transportation, Inc. The group ride vehicle will run seven days a week between the hours of 6AM and 10PM making stops every 30 minutes for a fare of $2 per rider.
  
  
  
  
• The former B39 service area which will run through Williamsburg and the Lower East Side of Manhattan will be operated by City Link Transportation Systems. The group ride vehicles will run weekdays 6AM-10PM, and weekends 6AM-1AM making stops every 30 minutes for a fare of $2 per rider.
  
  
  
  
• The former Q79 service area, which will run through Little Neck, Glen Oaks, and Bellerose will be operated by Alpha Van Lines. Starting September 20, Group Ride Vehicles will run:
  
  
  • weekdays from 6AM-8PM making stops every 15 minutes during the rush hours of 6AM-10AM and 3PM-8PM, and 30 minutes at all other times; and
    
    
  • weekends from 8AM-6PM, making stops every 30 minutes. The fare for this service will be $2 per rider.
    
    
    
    
• The former B71 which will run through Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Prospect Heights starting September 27 will be operated by Brooklyn Van Lines. The group ride vehicle will run from 6AM-10PM seven days a week making stops every 30 minutes. The fare for this service will be $2 per rider.
  

What will identify the Vehicle as being part of the Group Ride Vehicle program?

Each vehicle will have unique Group Ride Vehicle Pilot Program decals like the one shown on the previous page that are similar to those already made for other Taxi and Limousine Commission regulated vehicles on all four sides of the vehicle. The Taxi and Limousine Commission also requires that operators display “GROUP RIDE VEHICLE” on both sides of each of their vehicles.

Who should customers call to get more information about the pilot program, find out where a vehicle is, or lodge a complaint?

Except for the former B23 service area provider each operator has a phone number that is dedicated to this program as follows:

• former B39 service area (718-723-7269),
  
  
  
• former B71 service area (718-676-0504),
  
  
  
• former Q74 service area (718-297-0710),
  
  
  
• former Q79 service area (516-792-6751).
  

This information will also be available on the signs at each stop and through our website, as well as by calling 311 which will also be able to answer certain route related questions.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) launched a dedicated livery stand on September 7 at the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. This stand will be operated exclusively by United Car Service.

HOW IT WORKS

• Only United Car Service cars can pick up and drop off at the new stand.
  
  
  
• Drivers for other car services/livery bases must pick up passengers on Richmond Terrace. They can no longer pick up passengers at the ferry terminal.
  
  
  
• However, drivers for other car services/livery bases can continue to drop off passengers at the Kiss and Ride Lot.
  
  
  
• NYPD and TLC Enforcement will enforce against drivers from other car service/livery bases who attempt to pick up at the ferry terminal.
  
  
  • Passengers are free to pre-arrange pickups with the licensed car service/livery base of their choice on Richmond Terrace.

Visit Taxi and Limousine Commission Web site at: www.nyc.gov/taxi

© 2013 TLC Magazine Online, Inc.