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DFHV plans RFP for wheelchair‑accessible vehicle pilot and retains $500,000 in incentive funding for FY27
Summary
DFHV Director Jonathan Rogers said the agency plans an RFP to pilot sustainable wheelchair‑accessible taxi service, has deployed at least 15 WAVs this fiscal year, and retains $500,000 in proposed incentive funding for FY27 to support recruitment, repairs and vehicle purchases.
In testimony to the committee, Jonathan Rogers said DFHV is focused on increasing wheelchair‑accessible vehicle (WAV) service and will use pilot funding to pursue an RFP informed by responses to a recent request for information. "We've really been focusing on driver recruitment and getting WAVs on the street," he said, adding that DFHV has put "at least 15 vehicles into service" during the latest pilot iteration.
Rogers confirmed DFHV expects to retain a $500,000 pool for incentive funding in FY27 and outlined elements the agency would use the money for — vehicle repair and purchase assistance, driver incentives, and recruitment events run in partnership with DOES and industry partners. He said the agency received five substantive RFI responses and plans to move to a formal RFP that could produce contracts for a scaled pilot; he also described a fleet requirement approach (counting at least one wheelchair passenger trip every three months) to ensure WAVs are on dispatch and providing measurable service.
The committee pressed DFHV on implementation timing and on whether the agency had adequate staff and procurement capacity to manage a larger WAV procurement; Rogers said a competitive RFP and close coordination with potential vendors would be the next steps and that he was optimistic about the FY27 pilot funding enabling a meaningful expansion of service.
