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Q&A
Commuter van industry and enforcement challenges
4:16:50
ยท
3 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers raises concerns about TLC's resources for commuter van enforcement, and Commissioner Do responds with updates on the industry and enforcement efforts.
- The number of TLC-affiliated commuter vans has decreased by 93% since 2015, with only 39 licensed vehicles as of January 2025.
- There are concerns about an increase in unlicensed commuter vans due to high costs of licensing and insurance.
- The state's commuter van stabilization program provides up to $40,000 per van for insurance and safety equipment.
- Licensed commuter vans have increased from 34 to 43, with numbers now reaching into the sixties.
- TLC works with NYPD and its own police force to enforce regulations against illegal commuter vans.
- The agency supports efforts to provide legal commuter van services for last-mile transportation to train stations.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:16:50
I'd like to thank you and your team upfront for working alongside my staff as well as DOT as we continue to navigate navigate the commuter van industry.
4:17:07
So there are concerns as to whether TLC has sufficient resources and personnel to carry out effective commuter van enforcement.
4:17:17
There is not an official count on how many unlicensed commuter vans are on city streets, however it is believed that the number has surged due to an expansion of the rules and an increase in the cost to become licensed including insurance that costs up to $50,000 a year.
4:17:38
TLC data shows the number of TLC affiliated commuter vans in service has shrunk by 93% since calendar year 2015 with just 39 vehicles still licensed to operate as of January 2025 down from 215 a decade ago.
4:18:01
Additionally, the number of licensed commuter van drivers has shrunk.
4:18:06
It is not clear how many operators have shifted to driving vans that are not licensed and how many have taken other jobs.
4:18:14
What are the costs of enforcement for TLC?
4:18:18
How much is budgeted in fiscal twenty twenty five and in the outer years?
4:18:24
And how much was spent in fiscal twenty twenty four?
David Do
4:18:27
Well, thank you council member and chair for setting up the working group together so that we can discuss these very important issues.
4:18:37
In support of the state through the commuter van stabilization program, there was an $11,000,000 pot dedicated to commuter vans.
4:18:47
And that program is being implemented by Empire State Development Corporation.
4:18:53
There, they provide up to $40,000 to support our commuter vans, including insurance, dashcams, and other telemetrics telematics, excuse me, to help support lower insurance rates so that we have a pathway to making sure that there are more commuter vans on our streets that are legal.
4:19:15
Last year when I came, there were about 34 licensed commuter vans.
4:19:19
This year, through our efforts and through the state's efforts, are 43 licensed commuter vans.
4:19:25
And actually, that number has now reached into the sixties.
4:19:30
The second part of your question is, what are the enforcement mechanisms that we do to support and to make sure that illegal commuter vans are not operating on our city streets?
4:19:42
We regularly work with NYPD to ensure and with our TLC police force to ensure that illegal commuter vans are not conducting business and that we have a pathway for the legalization of commuter vans.
4:20:00
I'll stop there.
4:20:01
I think that was a long winded answer to answering your questions.
4:20:04
But again, we support your efforts to making sure that there are commuter vans to provide that last mile oftentimes to the train stations for all residents in all five boroughs.