HomeMy WebLinkAbout0243.091~ w
April 25,1991
BONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, California
CHANGES TO PROJECT MOBILITY tAXI_SERVICES
Keabers 0 f the Counci 1 :
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This is an informational report, no Council action is required or
needed.
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Bay Area Cab Lease, Inc. io a major taxi service provider in Palo
Alto and is, at present, tbe only taxi service provider with whom
the city bas a contract to provide transportation services as part
of the Cityts Project Mobility program.
Ouring the past several months, ownership and insurance questions
have arisen regarding Bay Area Cab Lease, Inc. Efforts by City
staff to resolve these questions have not been fruitful.
Therefore, on Wednesday, April 10th, the Police Department held a
public hearing to consider revocation of Bay Area cab Lease, Inc.'s
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. As part of the
public hearing, .B. ~epresentive of Bay Are; cab Lease, Inc. informed
tbe city that the company had filed a pe .ition for reorganization
uniler Chapter 11 of the bankrUptcy laws.
The outcome of that hearing is that the city notified Bay Area cab
Lease, Inc. on MondaYt April 22nd that its Certificate or Public
Convenience and Necessity is revoked effective April 30jl 1991.
This action makes it illegal for Bay Area cab Lease. Inc. to pick
up passengers within the Palo Alto city limits, and it applies
equally to both qeneral taxi service and Project Mobility taxi
service.
So as not to unnecessarily disrupt Project Mobility taxi services,
staff has made contractual arrangements with Merit Taxi to provide
the same type of service provided by Bay Area cab Leasejl Inc., for
the remainder of the service year (through June 30th). The City
CMR:243:91
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has the riqht to contract ~lth multiple taxi service providers, and
City statf is satisfied that Merit Taxi meets ti~e necessary
insurance provisions and certification requirements for the
proqram. Staff is also satisfied tbat Merit Taxi has the necessary
resources to provide much of the taxi service required by project
Mobility participants. Since Merit Taxi is startinq new with the
Project Mobility Program, has only recently expanded into Palo
Alto, and has a considerably smaller size fleet than Bay Area Cab
Lease, .Inc. I there tlay be some sen~ice !':"elated issues that surface
during the cominq weeks that will require special at~ention and
possible program modifications. staff will work closely with Merit
Taxi and Project Mobility 5ubscribers to resolve any difficulties.
All Project Mobility subscribers (+800) and other individuals and
organizations that serve pers?ns who use Project Mobility have been
advised of this situation {Attachment 1).
The van service component of the Project Mobility Program is a
completely separate contract and continues satisfactorily vith the
existing van service provider I Mobile Life Support •.
Respectfully submitted,
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MARVIN L. OVER"""Y
Chief Transportation Of£icial
JUNE PLEKIlfG
Assistant City Manager
'lr:nxai -f.Jd~~
KENNETH R. SCHREIBER /
Oirector of Planning and
Community Environment
Attachment: Notice to Project Mobility 6ubscrib~rs
CC: BaY Area Cab Lease, Inc.
Merit Taxi
CMR:243:91 4/25/91
Page 2
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Transportation Division ' 0 0:, -,,,.
P.O. Box 10250 ~ .... ~~ I,.:: c. .... ~:":,~ ..... ;,,~:;
Palo Alto, CA 94303-0862
April 25, 1991
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
CONCERNING A CHANGE IN TAXICAB SERVlCE
Dear Project Mobility Enrollee:
This letter is \0 advise you that the City of Palo Alto has revoked the
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity that authorizes Bay Area Cab
Lease, In<:. (<-'ba "Checker Yellow Cab" and "Menlo Cab") to operate a taxicab
business in Palo Alto effective Tuesday. April 30. 1991 at twelve midni~ht
After this effective date, Bay Area Cab can no longer legally pick up
passengers within the Palo Alto city limits_ This applies to general taxi service
as well as Project Mobility taxicab service.
In order to maintain ongoing Project Mobility taxicab services, we have made
arrangements for Merit Taxi to provide Project Mobility services for the
remainder of this fiscal year (i.e., through June 1991). The program will remain
essentially tbe same as it is now. To arrange for Project Mobility service,
please make your reservation a day ahead by calling:
MERIT TAXI
TELEPHONE: 1-800-344-8294
Merit Taxi recently es\abllsbed service in Palo Alto and will initially be
operating with a limited fleet of vebicles. They will try to accommodate all
Project Mobility trip requests. However, we have instructed the company to
give priority to medical trips if and when there are scheduling conflicts.
We recognize that during the next rew weeks, both Merit Taxi and our
enrcllees will need to adjust to this new situation. Your cooperation and
understanding during this transition period is appreciated.
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
6th Floor, City Han
(415) 329-2136 or 329-2520
ce: Agency MaJ1ing List
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