Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 142-09
March 26, 2009

STATEMENT BY MAYOR BLOOMBERG ON PASSAGE OF GREEN TAXI INCENTIVES BY THE TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission  Board of Commissioners today passed a package of lease cap modifications that will provide significant financial incentives to increase the use of fuel efficient and environmentally friendly taxicabs. Mayor Bloomberg announced the incentive program last November as a part of a series of initiatives designed to further increase the use of clean-air taxicabs.  The Mayor’s November announcement followed a decision in Federal District Court that prohibited the City from mandating the use of cleaner, more fuel efficient taxicabs.

“We have never let roadblocks prevent us from achieving our goals.  So when the courts prohibited New York City from taking forward-looking actions that would create cleaner air and a healthier place to live, we said we would find another way to continue to green the City’s yellow cabs – and we have.  Today’s actions by the Taxi and Limousine Commission provide financial incentives for the purchase of fuel efficient taxis and will speed up the phase-out of older, inefficient vehicles. Taxi fleet owners will have more reason to purchase cleaner vehicles and taxi drivers will be held financially harmless for the vehicle purchase decisions of fleet owners. The result will be more clean taxis on City streets. Turning yellow cabs green will be another step towards improving our air quality, reducing the use of fossil fuels and lowering our carbon emissions.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser / Marc La Vorgna   (212) 788-2958




More Resources