Accessibility
Companies with accessible vehicles
- All Access Taxi Ltd.
- Belle’s Express Transit Ltd.
- Blueline Taxi/Handi-Helper Transit Service
- Dependable Dispatch Service
- Dignity Taxi
- Divine Transit Service Ltd.
- Duffy’s Taxi
- Greencity Taxi Ltd.
- Maple Leaf Transport
- Silver Bullet Dispatch Services
- Spring Taxi
- Sunshine Transit Services
- Unicity Taxi
- Yellow Taxi Ltd.
Accessibility Surcharge
A minimum ratio of accessible vehicles is being encouraged through a surcharge mechanism:
- An accessibility surcharge of $0.07 per trip is a fee charged to both personal transportation provider dispatchers and to taxi dispatchers.
- The Accessibility Surcharge is applicable to a licensed dispatcher if less than 10% of a dispatcher’s fleet is comprised of accessible (wheelchair roll-on) vehicles demonstrated to be in operation each month (in order to qualify, an accessible vehicle must provide accessible service at least one day per week).
- All revenue from the accessibility surcharge will be used to support a program to improve accessible service within the vehicle for hire industry. The program recommendations will be developed through collecting input from industry stakeholders, the vehicle for hire advisory committee, the general public, and by conducting research to determine best practices and the types of accessibility measures that may be most effective.
Consideration of measures for the use of accessibility surcharge funds will depend on a number of factors, including stakeholder input, cost, available funds from the surcharge, and feasibility of implementation.
Engagement
February 2021 – The City met with stakeholders in January 2020 to discuss engagement and held several meetings in September 2020 to gather insight and feedback on proposed accessibility improvements that are to be funded through the vehicle for hire accessibility surcharge. A stakeholder engagement summary and appendices summarizing the feedback from vehicles for hire stakeholders in 2020 are now available.
Recommendations for improving accessible vehicles for hire service along with financial impacts will be provided to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works (SPC-IRPW) on February 11, 2021.
The SPC-IRPW will consider the recommendations and recommendations may go forward to Executive Policy Committee and Council for further consideration. Stakeholder will be notified of their opportunity to appear as a delegation.