NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CITIES
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES
AND COMMISSIONS
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
ASSEMBLY TASK FORCE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
(Oral Testimony by Invitation Only)

SUBJECT:
Accessibility of the Taxicab and For-Hire-Vehicle Fleet in New York City for Persons with Disabilities.

PURPOSE:
To consider the need to require more accessible vehicles for persons with disabilities in the taxicab and for-hire-vehicle fleets in New York City.

PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE

New York City
Wednesday
July 14, 2010
10:30 AM
Assembly Hearing Room
250 Broadway
Room 1923, 19th Floor

New York City's taxicab and for-hire-vehicle fleet are an integral part of the City's transportation system used by the general public. The Taxi and Limousine Commission has sold taxicab medallions specifically for wheelchair accessible vehicles, instituted a pilot program for the dispatching of wheelchair accessible taxis, and adopted regulations requiring the for-hire-vehicle fleet to have accessible vehicles available when requested from customers. The committees will examine if these measures are sufficient to address the needs of the public, especially in the wake of service cuts to the Access-A-Ride program.

Please see the next page for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.

Oral testimony will be by invitation only and will be limited to ten (10) minutes duration. Persons invited to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Assemblymember James Brennan
Chair
Committee on Cities
Assemblymember Richard L. Brodsky
Chair
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions


Assemblymember David Gantt
Chair
Committee on Transportation
Assemblymember Michael Cusick
Chair
Task Force on People with Disabilities



SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

A. 5224 (Espaillat) - Provides for a demonstration program involving the adaptation of taxicabs in New York City for the transportation of the disabled and a report thereon.

A. 7842 (Kellner) - Provides improved access to taxicabs for persons with disabilities.



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Accessibility of the Taxicab and For-Hire-Vehicle Fleet in New York City for Persons with Disabilities are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to:

Ali Vanderhoef
Analyst
Assembly Committee on Cities
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: vandera@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on Accessiblity of the Taxicab and For-Hire-Vehicle Fleet in New York City for Persons with Disabilities to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Cities, Corporations, Transportation and the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities on July 14, 2010.
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I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten (10) minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committees' mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committees' mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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