. . . for the purpose of discussing a "clean" hybrid taxicab program as implemented by the City of Boston.

Committee Reports
— Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee

May 10, 2007

Committee Report #3

TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC AND      In City Council June 25, 2007
PARKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Councillor Craig A Kelley, Chair
Councillor Henrietta Davis
Vice Mayor Timonthy J Toomey

The Transportation, Traffic and Parking. Committee held a public meeting on Thursday, May 10, 2007 beginning at five o’clock and thirty minutes P.M. in the Sullivan Chamber.  The meeting was held for the purpose of discussing a "clean" hybrid taxicab program as implemented by the City of Boston.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Craig Kelley, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Councillor Anthony G. Galluccio, and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury.  The following Cambridge officials and administrative staff were also present: Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning, Community Development Department (CDD), Richard Scali, Chair of the License Commission, Police Officer Benny Szeto, and Robyn Bell, Executive Director of the Office of Tourism.  Also present were Abraham Lom, 14 Lopez Avenue, Joseph Stein, 3 Langdon Square Apt. 3, Amanda Patrick, 3 Langdon Square Apt. 3, John Moore, 2 Shady Hill Square, Joseph W. Silva, 76 Hampshire Street, Ash Dyer, 504 Beacon Street, Boston, Tibor Hangyal, 207 Magazine Street.

Councillor Kelley convened the meeting and explained the purpose.  He invited discussion of the issue.

Amanda Patrick, 3 Langdon Square, stated that she is very interested in hybrid cabs and has done research about other cities.  She might take hybrid cabs more often.  San Francisco was the first city to have a hybrid cab program.  It started in 2005 with five cabs and now there are 40 cabs on the road.  Anecdotally, they are very popular with the drivers, who save about thirty dollars a shift, get bigger tips and have more interested customers.  The oldest cabs are up to 190,000 miles and are still going strong.  San Francisco officials are thinking of requiring that any cab that is replaced must be replaced by a hybrid cab.  Ms. Patrick said that in New York City there are 300 hybrid cabs in service, mostly Ford Escapes.  Chicago also has a “green” cab program.  In Chicago owners of “green” cabs are allowed to put more advertising on their cabs to recoup the higher cost of purchasing hybrid vehicles.  San Diego is requiring fleets of fifty or more to have one hybrid.

John Moore, 2 Shady Hill Square, said that he has been working on this issue for over two years.  He is interested in global warming.  He approached the Boston Public Health Commission with the idea of providing an incentive to cab drivers to convert to cleaner vehicles.  He persuaded Ford Motor Company to lend him a standard hybrid to follow a Boston cab for an entire 10-hour shift.  He followed the cab everywhere including to cab stands where they waited while the taxi driver’s Crown Victoria idled in order to keep the heater running and his hybrid sat silently automatically using the battery to keep the car warm.  During the shift the Crown Victoria used over 10 gallons of gas, and the hybrid used only 3.25 gallons, to include idling for heater use.

Thereafter in Boston, a partnership, which included the City’s environmental department, the hackney division and local cab companies, was established to create a program to help owners convert to hybrids while at the same time benefiting drivers, customers and the public at large.  The program was officially announced last September and has already experienced success.  There are currently approximately 15 Boston hybrid cabs, with more on order.  Massport has recently announced that it will give hybrid cabs front-of-line privileges, which may lead to more hybrids.

Mr. Moore stated that Boston’s hybrid cab owners report much lower maintenance costs and fuel savings of $20.00 to $30.00 per shift.  The challenge with these vehicles is the initial cost of the vehicle and insurance.  Incentive programs in Boston and other cities have allowed cab drivers to make the shift.  There is a 100% lease rate.

Councillor Davis said that Mr. Moore has persuaded her that although there are hurdles, a hybrid taxi program is worth pursuing.  As the owner of the hybrid car she is very happy to hear that hybrids last 190,000 miles.  As the greenest city on the planet, we need to get out taxis sorted out.  She challenged, half in jest, the License Commission, to be our greenest department.  This effort must be cooperative, taxi cab drivers and owners will realize that people like to drive, and drive in, hybrids. 

Richard Scali, Chair of the License Commission said that the License Commission has been thinking about this for a long time.  Boston’s program provides a good push.  The Cambridge Taxicab Subcommittee would like to see a program flourish.  The cost of the vehicles is the biggest problem.  That is where London’s program floundered on this issue.  A medallion costs $380,000 with another $4,000 to put a vehicle on the road.  There are various possible incentives.  Mr. Scali said that what would most likely attract people would be a program that offered a free medallion or a reduced value medallion, similar to the accessible taxi program.  There would need to be some value for collateral.

Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Transportation and Environmental Planning, (CDD), said that from environmental standpoint, a hybrid taxi program would be a major step forward.  A big priority would be not to harm the livelihoods of cab drivers.

Abraham Lom, 14 Lopez Avenue, said that taxi owners usually purchase used police cars to use as taxis.  He noted the competition that taxicab owners face from owners of livery vehicles, which do not need to have medallions.  Mr. Lom said that if there is going to be a leg up of free medallions for hybrid vehicles, the current medallion owners should get the opportunity before brand new applicants.

Robyn Bell, Director of the Office of Tourism, said that the Hotel Association is very interested in a hybrid taxi program.  Green initiatives are hot issues in general.

Councillor Davis said that there are 60,000 cars registered in Cambridge.  Most of them spend much less time driving around than cabs do.  Here there would be an opportunity to remove a high-energy user and carbon dioxide producer.  Each cab replaced by a hybrid vehicle would probably equal replacement of 30 private passenger vehicles.

Ms. Rasmussen said that lots of cars in Cambridge are rarely used. The City has a “green” vehicle policy.  Every new vehicle purchased must be a “green” vehicle, unless the requester can prove that it is not possible for that particular vehicle usage need.  It is tough to get a hybrid vehicle for a police cruiser, which must accommodate two officers and a console in the front.  The City Manager signs off on all purchases.

Mr. Moore said that passenger cars fill up their tanks every seven to ten days while a cab fills up every day, so it is a seven to one ratio.  He also said that there is one livery owner in Cambridge who runs all hybrid vehicles and has been very successful.  Green conversions of cabs are often compressed natural gas.  The police want a Crown Victoria’s power.  He added that New York City changed its regulations to require newer cabs and that has turned out to be very good for the industry.  He stated that he agreed with Mr. Lom about using existing medallions, that is where real change must come from.  He said it is a great idea to start by seeding the industry with “green” medallions.

Councillor Galluccio agreed that a “green” program should be looking first at conversion of existing medallions.  The City must consider the fairness issue.  He would like to see incentives for conversion.  He emphasized the cost of doing business in Cambridge.  He believes the taxi business is far more profitable Boston because there is more going on in general.  Taxi owners face high insurance costs, financing costs, and leasing costs.  He really would like to see some of the pressure taken off the drivers.  He does not want more regulatory burdens.

Councillor Davis asked what the next steps should be.  Mr. Scali recommended referral of the issue to the Taxi Committee.

Councillor Kelley said that in the winter most cabs idle because of the cold and in the summer, they idle because of the heat.  If cabs didn’t idle, their impact on air quality would not be so bad.  He submitted the following motion:

ORDERED:   That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to refer to the matter of a “green” cab program to the Taxicab Subcommittee of the License Commission for a

ORDERED:   That the report include the point of view and input from environmental proponents, the hotel and tourism sectors and owners and drivers from the Cambridge taxi industry.

The motion passed without objection on a voice vote. 

Mr. Scali said that they would push, with Commissioner Haas, on idling.  They are launching a new award program, CBC – “Cambridge’s Best Cab” –to help focus on the newest, cleanest cabs in the fleet.

Councillor Kelley thanked all those present for their participation.  The meeting was adjourned at six o’clock and five minutes P.M.

For the Committee,

Why? Boston Clean Air Cabs