Res. No. 1225
Resolution calling upon the Mayor of the City of New York, the New York City Department of Transportation, and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to significantly increase the number of taxi stands within the central business district of Manhattan and to equip such stands with all-weather furniture and shelter that would attract passengers to use such stands.
By Council Members Fidler, Rivera, Dickins, Comrie, Arroyo, Recchia Jr., Mealy, White Jr., Weprin, Lappin, Eugene, Felder, Gennaro, Gentile, Ignizio, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Sears, Seabrook, Stewart, Vacca, Barron, Katz, James, Foster, Gioia, Reyna and Koppell.
Whereas, It is estimated that yellow taxicabs make a substantial share of all vehicle miles traveled within the central business district of Manhattan; and
Whereas, According to data prepared in 2005 for the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission by Schaller Consulting, a transportation consulting firm, cruising for passengers accounted for thirty-nine percent (39%) of all vehicle miles traveled by yellow taxi cabs; and
Whereas, A prevailing lack of adequate taxi stands equipped with all-weather shelter furniture throughout the central business district of Manhattan forces taxis to cruise for passengers and for many individuals to hail cabs that need to stop mid-street in the midst of and impeding traffic flow; and
Whereas, An increase in the number of all-weather equipped taxi stands would both encourage passengers to use such taxi stands and encourage taxi drivers to seek passengers at such stands; and
Whereas, If even a small percentage of passengers and cab drivers regularly used such additional taxi stands to pick up passengers instead of cruising for fares, there would be a significant reduction in vehicle miles traveled in the central business district and an improvement in the flow of other vehicular traffic; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Mayor of the City of New York, the New York City Department of Transportation, and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to significantly increase the number of taxi stands within the central business district of Manhattan and to equip such stands with all-weather furniture and shelter that would attract passengers to use such stands.
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