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Mayor Pushes for Centralized Dispatch in Annual Address

For the second year in a row, Mayor Gavin Newsom has devoted a significant portion of his annual State of the City address to taxi service. And for the second straight time, he has called for a centralized dispatch system as a centerpiece for improving service. He also asked for an expansion of taxi stands, especially at transit hubs, and a Taxi Rider’s Bill of Rights to be placed in every cab. He repeated his previous proposal for a transition of the entire fleet to low-emissions vehicles by 2011. Here is the full text of the mayor’s remarks on taxis, as posted on the city’s website:

I think we can all agree that the more people who get out of their cars and use alternative transit – the better this city is going to be for everyone.
Another way of doing this is to have safe, reliable and affordable taxi service.
Recent legislation passed by the Board makes San Francisco one of the most expensive cities in the country to take a taxi.
The reality is, when people know they can get a taxi in a pinch - it keeps them from using their car for short trips.
But if taking a taxi is going to cost you more – something that I continue to believe was a mistake – then at least we should make it easier for people to find one.
Customer service in the taxi industry is simply behind the times.
We are one of the most technologically-advanced cities in the world, yet taxis are still being dispatched by radio.
We are a transit first city, but not when getting a taxi means being placed on hold for ten minutes before even talking to a dispatcher.
For the taxi industry to survive – and for San Franciscans to get the best service possible – we must move this industry – into this century.
I challenge the Taxi Commission and its industry partners to create a centralized dispatch system available online and by phone.
This idea was first proposed by our new Executive Director of the Taxi Commission in 1999 and seven years later we are still debating it… It’s time has come.
Another idea whose time has come – is a substantial expansion of taxi stands.
Anyone that’s been to the Caltrain station at Fourth and Townsend, knows the importance of taxi stands.
So I am directing the Taxi Commission and the MTA, in coordination with AC Transit, BART and our other transit partners to install taxi stands at every major transit hub in the city – not just downtown.
Recognizing that there are peak hours of need in our neighborhoods – we will also create a comprehensive system of taxi stands throughout our neighborhoods.
What’s more, I am asking the Taxi Commission to require that a Taxi Rider’s Bill of Rights be posted in every cab, with complaints and compliments directed to our new 311 call center.
… More on that later… Now – I recognize that as Mayor I cannot simply wave my hand and make it so… but today I sent a letter to the Taxi Commission asking that they require all new taxis to accept credit cards – and be GPS enabled.
Why GPS? Well… GPS, is the first step we must take in order to make a centralized dispatch system a reality.
I have also directed the Taxi Commission to continue the transition of our entire taxi fleet to hybrid, alternative-fuel and other green vehicles, so that by 2011 – in just four years – every cab in San Francisco will be clean.
Incidentally, we have the second highest number of alternative fuel cabs in the nation – but we can do better.
As we clean and green our taxi fleet we must also make an investment in a cleaner and greener San Francisco.