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COMMISSIONER'S LETTER |
By New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairwoman & Chief Executive Officer Meera Joshi
I'm writing this column as Chanukah comes to a close, but before Christmas and Kwanzaa, so I hope that everyone reading this has already or will soon be enjoying their celebrations to the max. So, what's going on with this weather? While the unseasonably warm weather has been very cooperative in terms of folks getting out and about, I'm sure there are lots of taxi and FHV drivers out there wishing for a cold snap to come along....my fingers are crossed for you!
So, since we last spoke, we've successfully concluded the accessibility drawings for medallions with scheduled vehicle retirements through the year 2022. This was a herculean task from an organizational level, but we are now on track and on mission to reach our goal of a 50% wheelchair accessible taxicab fleet by the year 2020.
I'd like to thank all of the medallion owners and operators who, at one point or another over the next few years, will be active participants in making New York City the most accessible taxi fleet in the nation. In all the hoopla over the logistics and economics of taking this from concept to reality, I think that sometimes we lose perspective of just how historic an achievement this is. However, let me assure you all, the eyes of the world are on the New York City taxi industry, and our accomplishments continue to impress.
Speaking of accessibility, we've discussed this before, but it bears repeating! By the time you read this it's possible that New Year's Day may have already passed, so it's very important everyone knows that on January 1, 2016, the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF) - made up of the 30-cent surcharge that drivers have collected from passengers since January 1, 2015 - will go live with its mechanism for delivering payments to wheelchair accessible vehicle owners and drivers. To prepare for this, we ask that owners and drivers update their information with us. Take a moment and visit the LARS (License Applications, Renewals and Summonses) web page at https://www1.nyc.gov/lars/ for all the details on how to update quickly and easily.
On November 30, the TLC announced a license modification that we call the Med/FHV license, which allows its holder to drive yellow medallion taxicabs as well as the vehicle types driven by holders of the For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) license. Medallion drivers are receiving the Med/FHV license at both initial licensure and renewal. Longtime current FHV drivers have the opportunity to hold a Med/FHV license through a testing procedure that will be available early in 2016.
While this license accomplishes the goal of increasing mobility between sectors, and giving drivers new and better earning opportunities, it will also ease some of the TLC's administrative burden. Click here for all the details: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/industry_notice_15_59.pdf.
I know I've also mentioned this in several columns, but while we're discussing processes that make people's lives easier, I just want to remind everyone that the TLC no longer accepts walk-in license applicants without an appointment. Details are available at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/industry_notice_15_41.pdf and (en español) - http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/industry_notice_15_41_spanish.pdf.
As everyone who reads this column knows, the TLC has been working very hard over the last few years to offer our licensee and applicant customers more and more on-line transactions, more time with your families or on the road and less time waiting on lines at the TLC! Today, people can use our on-line LARS system to:
and it's been working incredibly well, thanks to the TLC's dedicated tech geniuses and the licensees and applicants who've wisely been using it.
Now that it's been going so well for so long, it's almost time to complete the transition to all on-line transactions. We anticipate that, as of April 2016, we'll be requiring that all driver renewals will be taking place on-line, and through e-mail/mail quickly and conveniently. We'll have updates about this over the next few months, so keep an eye on the web site.
On behalf of all the hardworking men and women who serve you at the TLC allow me to thank you for another great year of service to the millions of New Yorkers and visitors who rely on you to get where they need to go, rain or shine, snow or sleet, hot or cold. It's a difficult job, no matter which sector you're in, but there's a reason why New York City's taxi and for-hire industries are known and respected the world over - and you're it.
I'd like to wish you and your families all a very happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season and New Year!
