Request for Application: Accessible Taxi Grants - Releases

The District of Columbia’s Taxicab Commission along with the Government of the District of Columbia would like to establish wheelchair-accessible taxi service in the District of Columbia and invites the submission of applications for a grant to help establish wheelchair accessible service to persons with disabilities. These funds are authorized by DC Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-301 et seq, the Wheelchair-Accessible Taxicab Promotion Fund Act of 2007, which establishes a fund “to encourage the purchase, operation and use of wheelchair-accessible taxicabs [and] to provide a required local match for the purposes of obtaining grant funding.”

The Taxi Commission plans to:

Host an information session on April 1, 2008 between 10:00am – 11:30am to discuss the Request for Application (RFA);
Combine the use of the $200,000.00 appropriated under this Act to support the federally funded New Freedom program administered by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s (COG) which has about $1.65 million available. The New Freedom program aims to remove transportation barriers for persons with disabilities “above and beyond” what is required by ADA, including for the purchase of accessible taxis and for training of front-line employees, such as drivers;
Award a grant to help New Freedom applicants meet federal match requirements, which are: 80% federal, 20% local for capital projects; 50% federal and 50% local for operating projects. Applicants will apply to the Taxi Commission to purchase and operate accessible taxis throughout the District of Columbia. Successful applicants will receive a letter of commitment to demonstrate the availability of matching funds which is required for a New Freedom application to the TPB. Applications to the TPB are due April 30, 2008; more information about the New Freedom program can be found www.tpbcoordination.org.
Publicize the existence of the Fund and the process by which programs, taxi companies, owners and operators of taxi vehicles, other for-profit transportation providers and non-profit organizations may apply to the Fund;
Make loans and grants from the Fund, including below-market rate or zero interest loans, so long as the loans are for the purposes of purchase, operation and use of wheelchair-accessible taxicabs within the District of Columbia;
Accept applications for these matching funds through a formal Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants must coordinate their request with their New Freedom request to show how the funds from the District of Columbia will be used for accessible taxis in the District.
Applicants selected for the District of Columbia Wheelchair-Accessible Taxicab Promotion Fund Act of 2007 funding will have to comply with the Federal Transit Administration requirements, including civil rights, procurement and drug and alcohol testing and regular performance, financial and milestone reports.

For more information, please feel free to contact Ms. Sherry Tillman: sherry.tillman@dc.gov; (202) 645-6018.