Los Angeles council puts taxi refranchising RFP back to committee after lengthy public hearing

The Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 22 referred a proposed request-for-proposals (RFP) to re-franchise taxi service in the city back to the Transportation Committee after an extended public hearing and debate over service areas, alternative fuels and enforcement.

The measure, introduced by Department of Transportation staff and the Taxicab Commission, would authorize a new set of five-year franchises (with possible annual extensions) and require computerized dispatching, data reporting and other performance requirements from franchisees. Council action at the meeting sent the entire matter back to committee for further refinement; the motion to refer passed on a council roll call and was recorded as 14 ayes.

Why it matters: Council members and dozens of speakers, including drivers, fleet owners and fuel suppliers, framed the refranchising as a decision that would affect service coverage across Los Angeles, the economic prospects of owner-drivers and the city's air-quality goals. Several council members emphasized that issuing an RFP now should not preclude later council-level policy choices on staging,…