Authorizes the Capital District transportation authority to enter into an agreement with certain municipalities relating to the registration and licensing of taxicab vehicles

Section 2 - Authorizes certain municipalities to enter into an agreement with the Capital District Transportation Authority to administer the registration of taxicabs and the licensing of taxicab drivers.

Section 3 - Effective date

Justification

The Capital Region has faced ongoing issues surrounding its taxicab industry in terms of customer service, pricing, and overall quality. In an effort to alleviate these problems, several of its municipal governments have sought to work in concert with the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) to coordinate and standardize some of the ministerial processes surrounding registration of taxicabs and licensing taxicab drivers. This bill authorizes both CDTA and those municipalities within the Capital District Transportation District (CDTC) that choose to enter into an agreement where CDTA would manage a very limited piece of these administrative services.

Taxicab service in the Capital Region has long been the subject of controversy. Customer complaints have abounded in recent years. In a region that is so reliant on travelers being able to move quickly and comfortably between, for instance, the Albany International Airport or the Rensselaer Train Station to their destination, taxi service must be of the highest quality and consistency. This has not been the case. It should not require an hours long wait time and excessive fees (charged, quite frequently, in violation of local law) to simply traverse the ten-minute distance between the Rensselaer Train Station and the New York State Capitol.

This legislation seeks to give local governments and CDTA the ability to work cooperatively to streamline administrative processes with the goal of providing improved taxicab service to those visiting the Capital Region. It comes at a critical point in the region's history. As the opening of the Albany Convention Center approaches in Albany, the Rivers Casino in Schenectady as well as rumblings of ridesharing coming to the area in upcoming years, providing taxi service that will benefit both the region and its taxi service providers has never been more critical. Regardless of whether or not ridesharing comes to the region, improved taxi service is essential to the continued growth of the Capital Region economy as well as local economies.

It is valuable to note that CDTA will not be taking on the authority to make licensing decisions or which cabs to register. Those decisions remain solely with municipal governments and will follow their municipal ordinances, as they always have. CDTA will be working cooperatively to take on administration duties, including a unified complaint process, but will not be making decisions.

This legislation accomplishes the goal of improved customer service for those who use taxis. Additionally, this legislation will create a one stop shop with one standard for taxi companies and drivers to have a place to go to for their medallion as opposed to having to go to each community to become licensed. Finally this legislation will maintain the home rule responsibilities that local governments desire but also give them the opportunity for a shared service effort that will save municipalities resources while working in a cooperative effort with CDTA to improve the customer experience.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed July 1, 2021.