Agenda Text
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Requesting approval of a Clean Cab Proposal to waive taxi medallion fees for qualifying vehicles.
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Official Text\
To the Honorable Board:
I respectfully request that this Board consider and approve an order that Taxi Medallion Fees shall be waived when an applicant presents evidence, satisfactory to the City Clerk, that the vehicle for which the medallion is sought either 1) qualifies as a fuel-efficient or zero-emissions vehicle under federal vehicle standards; or 2) is a wheelchair accessible vehicle (i.e. a taxi that allows a person who uses a wheelchair to ride as a passenger while sitting in the wheelchair).
As reasons therefore, providing an incentive for taxicab owners to convert their fleet to fuel-efficient or zero-emissions vehicles will help move the City closer to reaching its goal of carbon neutrality to help combat climate change. Because it will likely be considerably cost prohibitive to upgrade a fuel efficient or zero emissions vehicle to be wheelchair accessible, or vice versa, waiving the medallion fees for wheelchair accessible vehicles is necessary to avoid creating an unfair disadvantage to wheelchair accessible vehicles. Doing so may also incentivize taxicab owners to use such vehicles in their fleet to provide, safe, reliable and effective transportation to all persons in Somerville.
My staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Respectfully,
Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor