Industry Notice #16-03
Important Notice for Street Hail Livery
Permit Owners &amq; Medallion Owners and Agents
IMPROVEMENT FUND SURCHARGE PAYMENTS FOR THE QUARTER
ENDING 12/31/15 BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2016
PAYMENT DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 1, 2016
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) would like to inform its licensees that the date on which they can begin making their improvement fund payments for the quarter which ended on December 31, 2015 was moved to Monday, February 1, 2016.
Because of the new start date, the payment deadline for the quarter which ended on December 31, 2015 has been extended to Tuesday, March 1, 2016.
Failure to submit your payment by March 1, 2016 may result in a summons that could result in fines and/or possible suspension of your license until compliance.
Payments can only be made on-line using the On-Line Transaction system (LARS) which can be found at www.nyc.gov/lars. For instructions on how to make your payment, please refer to Industry Notice 15-18.
Industry Notice #16-04
ATTENTION: ALL MEDALLION TAXI &amq; SHL LICENSEES
JFK SURCHARGE AND NEW RATE
JFK Surcharge
Beginning February 1, 2016, the $4.50 JFK Airport rush hour surcharge will automatically apply at 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM weekdays, excluding holidays, on all Medallion Taxicab and Street Hail Livery (SHL) flat rate trips between Manhattan and JFK Airport.
Medallion Taxicab and SHL vehicle owners are receiving wireless updates to their TPEP and LPEP equipment to add the JFK rush hour surcharge. If there are any problems making the update to a vehicle's TPEP or LPEP equipment, the TPEP or LPEP provider will contact the vehicle owner directly to provide instructions on how to get the equipment updated. Unless instructed otherwise by the TPEP or LPEP provider, owners will not need to visit a meter shop to receive this update.
New Medallion and SHL rate cards, which will list the JFK Airport surcharge, will be distributed by the Uniformed Services Bureau (USB) at the Woodside Safety &amq; Emissions/Inspection facility beginning February 11, 2016 at your vehicle's next scheduled inspection. The new rate cards will have an expiration date of October 31, 2017.
Industry Notice #16-05
TLC APPROVES SIXTH PARTICIPANT IN
THE VEHICLE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY PILOT
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has approved a sixth participant in the Vehicle Safety Technology Pilot: Zendrive.
A Vision Zero initiative, the Vehicle Safety Technology Pilot will test and evaluate the efficacy of black boxes, anti-speeding technologies, driver alert systems and related analytic software in promoting safe driving of TLC regulated vehicles.
The Pilot began on April 7, 2015 and will last a full year ending on April 6, 2016. TLC will continue accepting applications throughout the Pilot, and will issue additional industry notices as participants are approved.
TLC would like to remind all industry participants that any use of in-vehicle technology must also comply with the New York State Vehicle Traffic Law which is available here:
public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO: (scroll down to VAT).
For more information about the Vehicle Safety Technology Pilot, please visit the web page: www.nyc.gov/tlc/html/industry/veh_safety_tech_pilot_program.shtml
Industry members—including agents, fleets, bases, taxi, street-hail livery, commuter van and FHV owners — who may be interested in participating in the pilot program using Zendrive's technology should reach out to Sanjeev Gill at:
sgill@zendrive.com or (408) 499-8033, or visit www.zendrive.com, for more information.
Industry Notice #16-06
TLC ISSUES REMINDER ON ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR:
INDEPENDENT UNRESTRICTED MEDALLIONS,
WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) RESTRICTED MEDALLIONS,
ALTERNATIVE FUEL MEDALLIONS AND MINIFLEETS.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) wishes to remind its licensees of accessibility requirements and eligibility for financial assistance through the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF). In addition, please see below for further information on retirement cycles and vehicle requirements.
All independent unrestricted medallions will alternate accessibility requirements during each subsequent retirement cycle. The medallions selected in one of the accessibility drawings must hack-up an Accessible Nissan NV200 when their current vehicle is retired, the first retirement cycle.
Per TLC rule 67-05.1B(b)(3), if you wish to purchase another TLC approved accessible vehicle, you must apply for and be granted one of the Accessible Taxi of Tomorrow waivers before purchase. Medallions not selected in an accessibility drawing are not required to place an accessible vehicle into service when their current vehicle is retired.
To find out if your Independent Unrestricted medallion was selected in an accessibility drawing, please consult Industry Notice #16-01 on the TLC web site at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/industry_notice_16_01.pdf as well as notifications previously sent via mail.
Independent Unrestricted Medallions are eligible for four years of financial assistance through the TIF for every approved accessible vehicle that is required to be placed into service.
WAV Restricted Medallions are required to operate only approved accessible vehicles at all times.
WAV Restricted Medallions are eligible for four years of financial assistance through the TIF for every other approved accessible vehicle placed into service upon the retirement of your current vehicle, the first retirement cycle.
Where a minifleet consists of two unrestricted medallions, the medallion assigned to the first vehicle that is scheduled to retire must place into service an approved accessible vehicle. Thereafter, at least one medallion, though not necessarily the same medallion, must be assigned to an approved accessible vehicle.
Where a minifleet consists of more than two unrestricted medallions, every medallion scheduled to retire must place into service an approved accessible vehicle until at least one-half of the minifleet's vehicles are accessible. Thereafter, at least one half of the minifleet's medallions, though not necessarily the same medallions, must be assigned to accessible vehicles.
Minifleets are eligible for four years of financial assistance through the TIF for every approved accessible vehicle required to be placed into service.
Alternative Fuel Restricted Medallions are required to operate only approved alternative fuel vehicles at all times and are not required to place an accessible vehicle into service.
For additional information on vehicle requirements, please visit our web site at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/taxicab_vehicles_in_use.shtml
To learn more about program requirements of the Taxi Improvement Fund, please visit our web site at www.nyc.gov/tif, or contact us at: TIF@tlc.nyc.gov.
1. You must take the required 24 hour course, pass the final exam and complete all requirements for your license within ninety (90) calendar days from the date you submit your application to the TLC or your application will be denied.
2. You must file an application with the TLC before taking the final exam. You will not be allowed to take the exam if you do not submit an application to the TLC.
3. You must take the required 24 hour course for your license type at one of the approved schools listed below.
4. You must take and pass the final exam with a score of 70 or above at the same school the course was taken. You will be allowed to take the exam as many times as needed to pass during the ninety (90) day application period.
5. If you file an application on-line, you can use the on-line filing receipt to register for school.
6. All fees paid to the TLC are non-refundable.
7. You must take an English Proficiency Test (EPT) administered by the school and reach the minimum score set by the TLC. You will be allowed to take the EPT as many times as needed during the ninety (90) day application period to help you meet the minimum score set by the TLC.
7. The FHV course is available at some of the schools in languages other than English. Please contact the schools directly for additional information on what languages they offer the course in.
HANAC NYC Taxi Academy
33-24 Northern Boulevard - 4th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 433-0493 / (718) 709-1990
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35-01 Queens Boulevard - Ground Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 433-0493 / (718) 709-1990
Contact Person: Hasain Shakil
www.hanactaxi.com
Course: $175 Exam: $75
Master Cabbie Taxi Academy
24-29 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY 1110
(718) 472-1699 / (800) 955-8294
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391 East 149th Street
Bronx, NY 10455
(347) 590-2220
Contact Person: Terry Gelber
www.mastercabbie.com
Course: $174 Exam: $75
Kingsborough Community College Taxi Institute
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235 – Room T4122
Contact Person: Efim Vitomsky
(718) 368-5189 / (718) 368-5052
Email: taxi@kbcc.cuny.edu
Course: $175 Exam: $25
LaGuardia Community College
NYC Taxi and FHV Driver Institute
31-10 Thomson Avenue
– M-Building, Room M-143
Long Island City, NY 11101
Contact Person: Karini Rodriguez
(718) 482-5335
Email: cunytaxi@lagcc.cuny.edu
www.lagcc.cuny.edu/taxi
Course: $175 Exam: $75
Please refer to Industry Notice #15-40 released on October 20, 2015
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) informs its licensees that For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) Driver Education will be required for Livery, Black Car, and Luxury Limousine Driver license applicants and for FHV drivers who received their licenses on or after March 20, 2015.
With nearly 80,000 licensed FHV drivers performing approximately 500,000 trips per day, well trained drivers are important for a safe, efficient, and active for-hire transportation industry. In January 2015, the Commission approved rules (55- 04(j)) requiring FHV drivers to fulfill the FHV Education requirement by completing a 24-hour course at a certified education provider and pass the FHV driver exam in order to get their licenses.
Starting December 20, 2015, FHV driver applicants and conditional FHV drivers (drivers who received their licenses on or after March 20, 2015*) will be required to complete the FHV Education requirement to get or keep their FHV license.
Drivers will be required to complete the course according to the following schedule:
The FHV course will be available in English, Spanish, Bengali, and Urdu at the same Schools that provide Taxi School. For a list of Schools that will offer the required course, please visit our website at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/taxischool_post_filing.pdf
If you have questions about FHV School, please contact the TLC's call center at 718-391-5501.
*The FHV Driver Education requirement (TLC Rule 55-04(j)) went into effect March 20, 2015.
The TLC requires all Medallion Taxicab and For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) applicants to complete Wheelchair Passenger Assistance Training. New applicants must complete the training in order to get a license and existing licensed drivers must complete the training in order to renew their TLC licenses.
These are the organizations that are currently working with TLC to provide Passenger Assistance training. Please choose from among these vendors and contact them directly for training services:
ABBA LOCAL TRANSPORTATION INC
4301 Glenwood Road, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Contact: Vadim Agafonov
Tel: (347) 829-2999
Email: info@abbalocal.com
ADVANCE MOBILITY PLUS
847 East 43rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Contact: Jeff Grobman
Tel: (718) 253-1212
Email: advancemobilityplus@gmail.com
www.advancemobilityplus.com
BUSSANI MOBILITY TEAM
41-43 39th St, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Contact: Wilson Calderon
Tel: (844) 877-3131
www.bussanicommercial.com
EASTER SEALS OF NEW YORK/FEDCAP
210 East 43rd St. – 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (877) 369-0940
FLEET RADIO LEASING LLC.
712 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11232
Contact: Gavriel Gavrilov
Tel: (718) 514-6500
Email: Gavriel@nextcenturyinsurance.com
www.cabclass.com
HANAC NYC TAXI ACADEMY
33-24 Northern Boulevard - 4th Floor,
Long Island City, NY 11101
Contact: Hasain Shakil
Tel: (718) 433-0493 / (718) 709-1990
www.hanactaxi.com
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE TAXI INSTITUTE
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235, Room T4122
Contact: Efim Vitomsky
Tel: (718) 368-5189 / (718) 368-5052
Email: taxi@kbcc.cuny.edu
LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NYC TAXI AND FHV DRIVER INSTITUTE
31-10 Thomson Avenue
– M-Building, Room M-143
Long Island City, NY 11101
Contact: Karini Rodriguez
Tel: (718) 482-5335
Email: cunytaxi@lagcc.cuny.edu
www.lagcc.cuny.edu/taxi
MASTER CABBIE TAXI ACADEMY
24-29 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, Queens. NY 11101
Contact: Terry Gelber
Tel: (718) 472-1699 or (800) 955-8294
www.mastercabbie.com
MDS CORP.
32-02 Queens Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
Contact: Mickey Milbauer
Tel: (718) 361-2232
Email: mickey2449@gmail.com
MDS CORP.
31-00 47th Avenue, 3rd Floor
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
Tel: (718) 392-0627 / (718) 392-2056
TAXI WORKERS ACADEMY AT NYTWA
31-10 37th Avenue, Suite 300
Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel : (718) 70-NYTWA (718-706-9892)
Fax: (718) 391-0169
www.nytwa.org
V O PARTNERS ACADEMY
2769 West 15 St, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Contact: Vadim Kulisheviskiy
Tel: (929) 888-6888
Email: nyctlcschool@gmail.com
www.ccgc.nyc/school
