We have created a Web site to help you understand the new for-hire vehicle rules. These new rules will affect how for-hire vehicles (more commonly known as “car service cars”, “livery cars”, “gypsy cabs”, “black cars”, and “dollar cabs”) look and operate. 
 
The Web site is separated into two sections, each section having links specific to who you are. If you are a driver, vehicle owner, or base owner, please look at the links under the ‘For Licensees’ heading. If you are a passenger, please look at the links under the ‘For Passengers’ heading.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has released a Request for Information (RFI) to seek input and information on ways to enhance the technology systems in each taxicab for the benefit of passengers, drivers and owners alike.

The RFI’s goal is to proactively seek and gauge input from the riding public, the taxicab industry and the technology community on the ways that we may bring the Taxicab Passenger Enhancement Program (or T-PEP) to the next level of functionality before the expiration of the City’s contracts with service providers.

The comment period for the Request for Information officially opens April 14, 2009 and ends June 15, 2009.  The RFI is posted on the TLC Web site (see link below), and those interested may comment either through the Web site (see e-mail link below), via US Mail at NYC TLC, 40 Rector Street, 5th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10006; via Fax at 212-676-1002, or by e-mail at policymail@tlc.nyc.gov.

From left to right are event hosts Neomi, Zion and Meir Yakuel, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City attorney Scott Pasternack, TLC Commissioner/Chairman Mathew W. Daus, and Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

On March 26, 2009, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a series of lease cap modifications proposed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg this past Fall ( Read November 14, 2008 Press Release ) with the goal of incentivizing the purchase and use of environmentally friendly taxicabs.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has announced that, in cooperation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the drivers of medallion taxicabs will receive Short Haul (“shorty”) tickets for rides to destinations in the Five Towns area of Nassau County from John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport as a pilot program starting on Monday April 6, 2009.

New York City TLC Commissioner/Chairman Matthew W. Daus, Nassau Consumer Affairs Commissioner Roger C. Bogsted and Westchester TLC (WCTLC) CEO and Chairperson Barbara Z. Monohan area pleased to announce that the Nassau County Taxi & Limousine Commission has met the requirements allowing vehicles and drivers licensed by the Nassau County Taxi & Limousine Commission (NCTLC) to provide inter-municipal transportation into and out of New York City and Westchester County.

As of March 1, 2009, wheelchair accessible taxi drivers will only receive priority at JFK International Airport when they pick up a wheelchair passenger through the 311 dispatch service. After they have completed their pickup and drop-off through 311, they will have Four (4) hours to get priority status at JFK’s Central Taxi Holding Lot.

For more information on the new priority line at JFK, visit our Accessible Dispatch System page (see links above) or click on the industry notice below.

The TLC has embarked on a project to explore the ways in which a “Taxi of Tomorrow” may be designed and manufactured.  The agency has distributed a Request For Information (RFI) that sought input, specifically from the auto industry, on the possibilities of creating a more appropriate vehicle for the New York City taxi fleet that incorporates the needs of diverse stakeholders-passengers, drivers, owners, and New York City residents. The TLC is currently in the process of analyzing the responses it has received.  Learn more about the “Taxi of Tomorrow” project by clicking on the links below…

New York City taxicabs are now equipped with an assortment of customer service-intensive technology-based improvements that include an interactive electronic passenger map and information screen, and credit/debit card acceptance.  Other enhancements will assist in the recovery of lost passenger property, and provide drivers with both business opportunities and important emergency information while electronically replacing the handwritten trip sheet.

For more information:

For the first time, the City will offer a variety of officially licensed TLC merchandise as well as other City products on one authorized Web site. The new online shop was launched on Thanksgiving Day by Mayor Bloomberg as part of the City’s new ‘Wear NYC ’ marketing campaign. In time for the holiday season, the site will allow visitors to purchase official merchandise from a total of seven municipal agencies. Anyone with internet access now has the chance to show their pride and support by owning a piece of NYC. A portion of proceeds will go to promoting and protecting the City.