WHEREAS, Philadelphia has a population of 1,547,607 residents, which includes 1.5% growth since 2010 and current projections estimate continued growth into the future; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 1,599 taxi cabs operating legally within the City which represents a ratio of 1 taxi cab for every 967.5 residents; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 7 wheelchair accessible taxi cabs in the City with 128,856 residents living with an ambulatory disability making the ratio of 1 accessible taxi cab for every 18,408 residents with an ambulatory disability; and
WHEREAS, The number of taxi cab medallions in Philadelphia has not increased since 1974; and
WHEREAS, Other cities that are classified as world-class and globally competitive have centralized dispatch systems, much higher ratios of taxi cabs to residents, higher numbers of wheelchair accessible taxi cabs and alternative fuel taxi cabs; and
WHEREAS, Having an increased number of taxi cabs operating in the City will make this choice of transportation more reliable for visitors as well as the growing number of residents that are choosing to leave behind their personal vehicles for alternative means of shared and public transportation; and
WHEREAS, Having greater numbers of modern, efficient and accessible taxi cabs directly affects the image and ability of Philadelphia to be taken seriously on the world stage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy and Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to investigate the current status of taxi cabs in the City and the impact of modernizing and increasing the number of taxi cabs as it relates to the continued efforts of making Philadelphia a globally competitive, world-class destination city.
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