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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 284-05
July 20, 2005

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION APPROVING THE USE OF HYBRID TAXIS BY THE TLC

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 664, sponsored by Council Member Liu, Barron, Fidler, Gentile, Koppell, McMahon, Stewart, Vallone, Sears, Yassky, Weprin, Gennaro, and the Speaker, Gifford Miller.  This legislation requires the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) to approve one or more hybrid electric vehicles for use as a taxicab within 90 days.
 
"Signing Intro. 664 into law marks an important milestone in improving the City's air quality through the use of alternative fuel taxicabs.  There are nearly 13,000 taxicabs on the City's streets; each provides an average of 20,000 passenger rides annually.  As more alternative fuel vehicles become available and more taxicab owners take advantage of them, we will begin to see substantial reductions of pollutants in our air.

"The TLC has begun the process of identifying one or more appropriate alternative fuel taxicabs for use on the City's streets.  The taxicab selected must be able to handle the rigors of the City's streets while at the same time doing as little as possible to roll back important gains made in passenger comfort.  These vehicles will be carefully scrutinized to evaluate their success and will be measured against other alternative fuel models to determine which alternative fuel vehicle is most appropriate to be used as a taxicab.

"I would like to thank TLC Commissioner Matt Daus and his staff for their continued work on identifying an alternative fuel vehicle for use as a taxicab.  I would also like to thank the Council for their work on this issue."







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