Media Contact: Neville Waters (202) 645-6020; [email protected]
The DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) presented 14 new wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) to recipients of the Transport DC Grant Program to provide greater access to taxis for residents and visitors who need accessible transportation.
“My Administration is committed to providing transportation options that are convenient, equitable, and accessible to every resident and visitor in the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Bowser. “We are excited to deliver 14 new wheelchair accessible taxis that will meet the needs of riders and raise the bar for accessible transport in the nation’s capital.”
The Transport DC Grant Program enabled qualified District taxicab operators to receive funding to purchase the new vehicles. In addition, grants were awarded to offset the cost to rent WAVs and provide free disability sensitivity and vehicle operation training. DCTC awarded nearly $700,000 in grants to 41 applicants.
Mobility Ventures, the makers of the MV-1 WAVs, added their support to this program. Under the public-private initiative DCTC offered taxicab company owners and drivers a $7,500 grant towards the purchase of a MV-1 wheelchair accessible vehicle. Mobility Ventures contributed additional incentives to lower the cost of ownership for these grant recipients.
“Once again, the District is using innovative approaches to ensure vehicles-for-hire are accessible and available to everyone,” DCTC Chairman Ernest Chrappah said. “To that end, we are pleased that this program provides drivers the opportunity to understand the facts of living with a disability and offers a holistic approach to improving transportation services in our city.”
“Accessible transportation is an absolute necessity for those in the disability community, and Mobility Ventures is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mayor Bowser, the DC Taxicab Commission and disability advocates to increase accessibility transportation in Washington, DC,” added Howard Glaser, President of AM General Commercial Business (parent company of Mobility Ventures).”
For more information about the vehicles and Transport DC, visit: www.dctaxi.dc.gov