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Transportation Commission approves several Metro operational items: pass-authority change, exclusion-policy ratification, taxi license renewals and a bus-stop/0
Summary
The Madison Transportation Commission approved a package of Metro operational and taxi-industry items on April 23: staff will seek council authorization to let the Metro general manager renew legacy pass agreements without bringing them to council, minor corrections to the transit exclusion notice were ratified, four taxi companies received two-year license renewals, and a Metro bus-stop change was approved.
The Madison Transportation Commission on April 23 approved a set of administrative and operational items affecting Metro Transit operations and local taxi services.
Commissioners unanimously recommended that the Common Council allow the Metro general manager to enter or renew legacy pass-program agreements without requiring council approval for organizations that previously exceeded the program’s participant-size limit. Staff said the change is intended to streamline renewals for longtime agreements with employers and institutions such as hospitals, colleges and several large employers that historically renewed by council resolution. “Those are the employers that now, we would have a blanket authorization to renew those,” a Metro staff member said, listing Meriter, Edgewood, UW–Madison, MATC and Dane County as examples discussed in staff remarks.
The commission also ratified minor, non-substantive updates to the transit-exclusion process — corrections to addresses and the commission name that staff said simply ensure people receiving exclusion notices have correct appeal information. "This is more protecting the due process rights of the excluded," a Metro staff member said.
On taxicab licensing, the commission heard a staff report and voted to recommend two-year license renewals for four companies, including Union Cab and Madison Taxi, and two specialized providers that serve paratransit and school transportation contracts. Yang (the city’s traffic-steering director) told the commission that there would be no rate increases for the regular taxi services, that vendors had submitted required insurance and maintenance information and that funds awarded earlier to support wheelchair-accessible taxicabs have been deployed. Representatives from Union Cab, Madison Taxi and Transit Solutions were present for questions.
During discussion, Commissioner Denise Jess said she’d received reports of paratransit drivers who lacked customer-service training for riders with disabilities. Metro staff advised riders and staff to report complaints to Metro’s customer service so contractors can follow up: call (608) 266-4466 or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com. Staff said they will work with contractors to follow up on specific complaints and review training and standards with providers.
On the consent agenda the commission also approved item 4 (Legistar 87998) to authorize bus-stop changes on West Washington Avenue and the Southwest Commuter Path; the motion carried by unanimous consent.
Actions related to these items will be forwarded to the Common Council where required.
