Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
Pursuant to Local Law 115 of 1993, van companies seeking to provide commuter van services in the City must submit an application to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, which conducts a review of the fitness of the applicant, including a background and fingerprint check. The application is also reviewed by the Department of Transportation for the purpose of determining whether the proposed van service operation meets statutory criteria. If both agencies have approved the application, the application may be reviewed by the City Council for its approval or disapproval.
Ozone Commuter Van Service has fulfilled the public convenience and necessity criteria set forth by the Department of Transportation and has also been approved after careful review by the Taxi and Limousine Commission as fit to operate a commuter van service. The applicant has been approved for nine commuter vans, to operate twenty-four hours daily.
I have long supported the need for alternate transportation to complement the limited mass transit resources available in certain areas of the City. Commuter van transport has proven to be responsive to the needs of special markets and has the potential to invigorate and revitalize many communities, by promoting individual entrepreneurship along with creating significant numbers of jobs throughout New York City. I am confident that Ozone Commuter Van Service will do just this and provide a valuable complementary mode of transportation in a safe and convenient manner.
I would like to commend Council Member Dear and the City Council for their fine work in relation to Ozone Commuter Van Service's application. I strongly encourage the City Council to approve additional applicants that seek operating authorization in New York City. I would also like to acknowledge, as well as congratulate Council Member Clarke for her continued leadership and unbridled commitment to the commuter van industry.