Chapter 201
2010 -- H 7498 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/25/10
A N A C T
RELATING TO
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION
Introduced
By: Representatives
Giannini
Date Introduced: February 23, 2010
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 39-18 of the General Laws entitled
"Rhode Island Public Transit
Authority" is hereby
amended by adding thereto the following section:
39-18-24.
John J. MacDonald, Jr. Transportation Initiative. –
(a) The
public transit authority is authorized and directed, in
consultation with the division of public
utilities and carriers and the governor's commission on
disabilities, to develop the "John J.
MacDonald, Jr. Transportation Initiative" for a
statewide federally funded "New Freedom
Program" to reduce barriers to transportation
services and expand the transportation mobility
options available to people with disabilities that need
wheelchair accessible transportation beyond
the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (
The goal is to provide on demand wheelchair accessible
taxicab service throughout the state, and
especially at T.F. Green state airport and the train stations.
(b) The administrator
of the division of public utilities and carriers is authorized and
directed to issue a regional wheelchair taxicab certificate
after a hearing, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 42-35, the administrative procedures act,
to any qualified applicant
therefore, authorizing the whole or any part of the operations
covered by the application, if it is
found that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to
properly perform the service proposed and to
conform to the provisions of chapter 39-14, and the
requirements, orders, rules, and regulations of
the administrator thereunder,
and that the proposed service, to the extent to be authorized by the
certificate, is or will be required by the present or future
public convenience and necessity;
otherwise the application shall be denied.
(c) The
(1) To adopt rules
and regulations for the implementation of the John J. MacDonald, Jr.
transportation initiative; and
(2) Purchase up to
(2) wheelchair accessible taxicabs for each regional wheelchair taxicab
or public motor vehicle certificate holder, utilizing
New Freedom – Safe Accountable Flexible
and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (23 USC sec 101
et seq.), a legacy for users funds for
eighty percent (80%) of the cost. Said program or purchases thereunder shall be funded by federal
grants and private funds only and shall not have a negative
financial impact on the
Public Transit Authority's operating budget. The
operators of the wheelchair accessible taxicabs
shall be responsible for the twenty percent (20%) nonfederal
match for purchase of the vehicles.
(d) The operators of
the certified wheelchair accessible taxicabs or public motor vehicles,
and not the
maintenance costs of the wheelchair accessible taxicabs or public
motor vehicles.
(e) The
carriers is authorized and directed to begin implementation of
the "John J. MacDonald, Jr.
Transportation Initiative" on or before January
1, 2011.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC00854/SUB A
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