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AIRPORT VOICE, NOVEMBER 2020 17
PORT DEFERS
SURCHARGES
For hire vehicles
fees delayed
At its meeting of September
26, 2019, the Board authorized
the Executive Director to adjust
certain tolls and fees. Among
these was an access fee to be paid
by FHVs and taxis operating at
the Airports. The Airports access
fee, though authorized in
September 2019, was to be effective
beginning this month. The
delayed effective date is the result
of the impact of COVID-19
and further time needed to finalize
implementation plans. Accordingly,
staff recommended
that the date on which the Airports
access fee will be effective
should be deferred, until April 5,
2021
Fees to have been charged to
all for-hire vehicles and taxis, was
reduced from the originally proposed
amount of $4.00 for for-hire
drop-offs and pick-ups and $4.00 for
taxi pick-ups to $2.50 for for-hire
drop-offs and pick-ups; $1.25 for
pooled for-hire drop-offs and pickups
and an initial taxi fee of $1.25
per pick-up.
This action is certainly welcomed
by the community. The entire
for hire business has sunk to
historic lows due to the pandemic.
Taxi pens at the airports are
just over about 10% capacity with
only a small number catering to
arriving passengers at Port Airports.
The Port held public meetings
regarding the proposed increases
caused an uproar within
the fir=hire community as they
complained that increased fees
would at the least hurt their business
and at worst bankrupt them.
Senator Roy Comrie testified at the
public hearings which were held
at JFK Airport, supporting these
concerns and the members of his
community who drive for a living.
Eventually the Port reduced this
fees and now has been deferred until
April 5, 2021.
There were other proposed
transportation increases which
eventually resulted in increased
fees for bridges, tunnels and the
AirTrain. These hit months before
the pandemic which reduced ridership
and bridge crossing by huge
numbers. These fee increases have
not been reduced, but the sole taxi
surcharges has been delayed.
In other airport transportation
news, a new taxi app, increased
hacker crackdowns and better sanitary
areas for airport for-hire vehicles
were implemented..
Taxi
The Port introduced a cuttingedge
mobile app to modernize the
taxi hailing system at the region’s
airports and new and improved
airport driver facilities at LaGuardia
and Newark Liberty Airports.
The contract for a modern, digital
Airport Ground Transportation
Management System has been
awarded to IBI Group, a global design
and technology firm. This custom
technology will replace the archaic
taxi dispatch system that has
been in use for 20 years and improve
the flow of taxis to passenger
pick up areas.
New washing areas
In addition, New, permanent
rest rooms, washing stations, and
meditation areas specifically for
airport drivers will be built at La-
Guardia, and at Newark Liberty,
the Port Authority will make significant
utility improvements to
existing facilities in the for-hire
vehicle hold lot. The Board authorized
the design and construction
of a 2,500 square foot permanent facility
including rest rooms, washing
stations, and meditation areas,
along with associated plumbing,
electrical, and heating ventilating
and air conditioning.
Hustler crackdown
the Port Authority also committed
to crack down on the influx of
illegal ride hustling the airports.
The agency took a three-pronged
approach featuring increased
enforcement based on new laws
which the Port Authority and expanded
customer education
The PAPD increased staffing at
the airports, both uniformed and
plain-clothed officers to focus on
catching hustlers through innovative
enforcement techniques.
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Queens Program
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Accepting Applications Until Dec. 31st
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