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Request for Public Comment – Docket No. P-24-08-01: Notice of Petition to Establish Pilot Program of Referred Taxicab Trips

Notice To All Interested Parties:

On August 15, 2024, the attached Petition was filed by Rasier-PA, LLC with the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s (“Authority”) Taxicab and Limousine Division.  This Petition may be downloaded here: Petition P-24-08-01

The Petition seeks authorization, via the implementation of a pilot program or other rulemaking, the ability to offer taxicab trips via the Uber App through referred rides from the medallion taxicab meter and dispatching system Curb Mobility, LLC (“Curb”).  Curb will then notify licensed medallion taxicabs that are in service through its E-Hail dispatch system of the requested taxicab trip.

Now, based upon the Petition, the TLD seeks written comment from the public at large and the industry concerning referred taxicab trips, including but not limited to:

  1. To provide Uber App users within Philadelphia, the ability to request that their trips be completed by licensed taxicabs;
  2. That the Uber App’s generally utilized menu will have a “Taxi” option for riders to select;
  3. That once the “Taxi” option is selected on the Uber App, the request goes to the medallion meter system Curb, which will then refer a taxicab trip to the Uber App user;
  4. An upfront flex-fare, as authorized by Authority Order 22-001, will appear for the Uber App user to see before selecting the taxicab ride and all rates are in accordance with authorized taxicab fares;
  5. Taxicab drivers will receive an upfront fare offer that will include, at minimum, the pickup location and the flat fare being offered;
  6. A taxicab driver’s ability to refuse the requested trips through Uber App;
  7. The Uber App user’s ability to see the taxicab driver information, including name and certificate number along with the medallion taxicab vehicle information;
  8. If authorized, “Taxi” trips requested on the Uber App will be integrated into routine service with Uber-X and Uber-Share rides; and
  9. Any other requests as outlined in the Petition.

Interested parties are invited to submit written comments no later than November 26, 2024 to the attention of: Director’s Office, Taxicab and Limousine Division, to [email protected] or by mail at: Director’s Office, Taxicab and Limousine Division, Philadelphia Parking Authority, 2415 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148-4113.

During this comment period, the TLD will also begin to conduct its own investigation concerning the aforementioned items.  We very much appreciate your input concerning this matter.

Taxicab and Limousine Division
Philadelphia Parking Authority

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Taxicab Age Limit

Notice To All Taxicab Owners: All taxicab vehicles cannot be more than 10 years old or have more than 350,000 miles on the odometer.  Prior to presenting a vehicle for a compliance inspection, please remember that an approved taxicab meter must be installed.  Also, please refer to the posted list of the approved vehicles for providing taxicab service, which can be found under the “Resources and Forms” tab.  The link for the current list is here for your convenience: https://philapark.org/wp-content/uploads/VEHICLES-APPROVED-FOR-TAXICAB-SERVICE-7.30.24.pdf.
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Taxicab Upfront Fare Pilot Program

Docket No. P-21-03-01: Implementation of Taxicab Upfront Pricing Pilot

Notice To All Interested Parties:

On March 30, 2021, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (“Authority”) approved, through Authority Order No. 21-003 (“Order”), the recommendation of the Taxicab and Limousine Division (“TLD”) to reopen a rate review investigation pursuant to a Petition for Rate Change (“Petition”) that was filed with the TLD on March 8, 2021.  The Order and the Petition may be obtained on the Authority’s website at www.philapark.org/tld.

Now, based upon the Petition and the TLD’s recommendation to the Authority, the TLD has approved the start of a pilot program to offer taxicab passengers an “upfront” pricing model outside of the taxicab metered fare rate for taxicab trips requested through the Curb app.  The Upfront Pricing Pilot will begin on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.  It will be available to all taxicab drivers logged into the approved taxicab meter system and a gradual number of Curb App users.

The Upfront Fare Pilot will allow Curb App users to book taxicab rides with flat, upfront pricing that is pre-calculated.  Upon request from an App User, the upfront pricing program will create a base fare for each trip based upon estimated driving distance and time.  The base fare relies upon a multivariate regression analysis of historical metered rates for similar trips, which is recalibrated from time to time.  The calculation of the variables will be based upon the time the trip is requested by the App user to generate the upfront pricing.**  Tolls, surcharges, etc. will be added to the base fare and charged to the passenger upon completion of the trip.  However, it is expected that the upfront pricing base fare will not be more than the standard metered fare.

Taxicab drivers will be presented with a passenger’s request for an upfront fare trip through the Driver Information Monitor (“DIM”), which will include the upfront base fare.  The trip will first be offered to the closest taxicab driver, who has the option to either accept or decline the upfront fare.  If declined, it will then be offered to the next closest driver.

The TLD will continue to monitor the pilot and make applicable recommendations to the Authority.  It is intended that this pilot will give riders more transparent and flexible options and increase taxicab ridership and earning capabilities for taxicab drivers.

Instructions for the drivers on how the Upfront pricing model will function through the DIM may be obtained here: https://gocurb.com/driver-manual-philadelphia-upfront-pricing/

We very much appreciate your cooperation concerning this matter.


Christine A. Kirlin, Esq.
Director
Taxicab and Limousine Division
Philadelphia Parking Authority

**Notwithstanding the above, any changes to the trip itinerary, including but not limited to change of destination, addition of intermediate stops along the booked itinerary, excessive traffic or other unforeseen delays, or specific user-requested routing, may result in a modification to the original upfront base fare amount.  Such modifications will be governed by Curb’s Terms of Service.

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