Q&A
Council Member Banks questions TLC Commissioner on yellow cab industry's future
1:26:34
ยท
4 min
Council Member Chris Banks engages in a Q&A session with TLC Commissioner David Do about the future of the yellow cab industry in New York City. They discuss the long-term vision for the industry, collaboration with other city agencies on issues like congestion pricing, and potential regulatory reforms to make the industry more competitive.
- Commissioner Do emphasizes the importance of accessibility, affordability, and safety in the for-hire vehicle industry, as well as providing opportunities for drivers to achieve the American dream.
- The TLC is collaborating with the Department of Transportation on issues like taxi relief stands and with the MTA on congestion pricing implementation.
- The commission is exploring innovations within the yellow cab industry, including making the flex fair pilot permanent and improving data collection for better service.
Chris Banks
1:26:34
Thank you, madam chair.
1:26:39
When we talk about long term vision, what is the long term vision, for the yellow cab industry in New York City, and how does the, TLC plan to ensure that yellow cabs remain a viable and iconic part of, the city's transportation, ecosystem in the face of the ongoing challenges that they're facing?
David Do
1:27:00
Yeah.
1:27:01
You know, one of, I think, the core values that I have for the entire industry, is an industry that is, that serves, that is safe, that continues to provide, people who need a for hire vehicle, an opportunity to get where they need to go in a timely manner.
1:27:22
But within that, there needs to be accessibility, affordability, and, safety for all roadway users.
1:27:32
And, you know, my biggest vision, for the entire for hire industry, is that everyone is looking for a pathway to the middle class, class, looking for opportunity for their families, for their kids to go on to college, for to buy their first home, to, you know, do what they need to do to live the American dream.
1:27:56
And and that's what, you know, I I really have, as a core value for this industry.
Chris Banks
1:28:02
Thank you.
1:28:02
Congestion pricing.
1:28:05
How is the, TLC collaborating with, city agencies, such as Department of Transportation, to address, address issues like congestive pricing, the dedicated taxi lanes, and the other infrastructure improvements that that could benefit the yellow cab industry?
David Do
1:28:23
Yeah.
1:28:24
You know, I I I appreciate my partnership with Commissioner Rodriguez tremendously.
1:28:31
He is someone who we, remain in contact on a principal level on a regular basis.
1:28:39
But we also have, connections with the policy team, my policy team, and, the DOT policy team to discuss the variety of different things, things like taxi relief stands.
1:28:50
Right?
1:28:51
Where do we need to put more taxi relief stands?
1:28:53
This has been a close partnership, that I incredibly appreciate.
1:28:58
On the MTA side, we also work, with, the MTA, JANO's office to really ensure the smooth implementation of, the the congestion pricing.
1:29:11
And, there have been small hiccups, right, of one or two drivers, but that that is just an operational issue.
1:29:18
Overall, the implementation has been, I I would say, flawless.
Chris Banks
1:29:24
Alright.
1:29:24
Thank you.
1:29:24
And my last question, when it comes to regulatory reforms, are there any plans, to revise the regulatory framework governing the yellow cab industry to make it more competitive, in the current transportation landscape?
1:29:39
For example, could Medallion requirements, be, adjusted to reduce course, for the owners?
David Do
1:29:45
Yeah.
1:29:46
We're always working with our communities, including our advocacy community to make sure, that, the yellow industry can continue their track, to recovery, to stability, and to ensure, its overall picture as the iconic yellow taxi of our city.
1:30:09
Within the regular regulatory framework, we're always looking at how do we put on, more innovations within, the yellow industry?
1:30:18
Last year, we made the flex fair pilot permanent.
1:30:22
We're looking within, the technology system to ensure that we get more data on a regular basis, so that we know, where, and when, Yellow taxis are operating so that we can simply get a lost item.
1:30:39
Right?
1:30:39
Simple like that Right.
1:30:41
Back to a passenger in a more efficient time frame.
1:30:45
Or making sure that, you know, that in the future, there might be a more need for a taxi, at a high volume event, be it at Madison Square Garden or or, one of our baseball stadiums.
1:31:03
Right?
1:31:04
And to to say, hey.
1:31:06
You know, there is high demand in a certain area of our city.
1:31:09
And so, you know, we have a sandbox, that we're looking at a variety of different new ideas, to ensure a more competitive for hire industry, for all New Yorkers.
Chris Banks
1:31:20
Alright.
1:31:21
Well, thank you.
1:31:22
Thank you, madam chair.