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.

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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.

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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: