Committee OK’s surcharge on taxi, Uber trips to help fund accessible service
A plan to add up to 30 cents to every taxi or Uber fare to fund improvements to wheelchair-accessible cab service in Calgary has received tentative support from city council members.
The surcharge could be rolled out as early as Jan. 1, if approved by a full vote of council.
The proposal, which includes a two-year pilot of a centralized dispatch service for accessible taxis, was endorsed by a city committee in a 5-2 vote Wednesday.
Calgarians who require accessible transport have complained previously to council that accessible taxi service too often arrives hours late or leaves fares entirely in the lurch.
Proceeds from the surcharge would be used to provide incentives of up to $5,000 annually to accessible taxi plate licence holders. The city estimates licence holders could collect up to $40,000 over the anticipated life span of a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Despite skepticism from taxi industry representatives that the grants wouldn’t be enough to encourage taxi owners to make their vehicles accessible and take on more fares, committee members decided to endorse the plan.
“We do need to provide incentives. Is it ever enough? Probably not. But I think it’s a start,” said Coun. George Chahal.
“My concern is for the individual who goes to a movie late at night, or goes out with friends late in the evening, who can’t get an accessible taxi and they’re then stuck, left waiting during closing hours at a theatre, pub or restaurant.
“We have to provide a level of service that all Calgarians should expect.”
Similar surcharges aimed at encouraging accessible service have been implemented in other jurisdictions, including New York City and Chicago.
The city is also proposing to award a contract to a third-party vendor to test the effectiveness of a centralized dispatch service improving on-demand wheelchair accessible taxi service.
The per-trip fee will also apply to what the city calls ‘transportation network company’ (TNC) trips, which include services such as Uber.
The city requires around 11 per cent of taxis in Calgary to be accessible. There is no similar requirement for TNC operators.
A spokesman for Uber told council Wednesday that they support the surcharge, but suggested the program’s goals could be achieved with a fee of no more than 15 cents per trip.