Council sends taxi refranchising RFP back to committee after debate over alternative-fuel incentives

The Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 22 heard a staff presentation and many public commenters on a proposed request for proposals to refranchise taxi service in Los Angeles, then voted to refer the item back to the Transportation Committee for further work.

The Department of Transportation presented the refranchising plan, led by Frances Banerjee, general manager of the Department of Transportation, and James Okazaki, assistant general manager. The staff described key elements of the draft RFP: a requirement that franchisees install computerized dispatching and automatic trip data reporting; monetary penalties for violations; credit-card acceptance; a cap that no single operator may control more than 35 percent of the citys authorized fleet; a minimum franchise size of 70 cabs; no recommended increase in the total authorized fleet (2,303 cabs); and a five-year franchise term with potential annual extensions for up to five additional years. Staff said the refranchising is intended to improve service coverage and make performance measurable through dispatch data.

The proposal included a new service type (a shared-ride product) and sought to modernize long-standing franchise language that staff said had not been comprehensively updated in 20 to 25 years.

The hearing drew extensive public comment on alternative fuels. Several speakers urged the council to include incentives for low-emission and alternative-fuel vehicles in the RFP. Commenters who identified industry or technical roles included Rick Price (Southern California Gas Company),…