Mohammed Benini, owner of Cowboy Taxi in Airdrie, approached Airdrie City council on Sept. 15 to ask if some of the funding provided through the provincial GreenTrip program that will see $2 billion provided to municipalities across the province for public transit projects by 2020, could be allocated to taxi companies wishing to provide accessible cabs.
Council voted to ask staff to look into Benini’s request and report back at a future City council meeting.
City council approved an exemption to the current taxi bylaw in 2010 that allows accessible cabs from Calgary to operate in Airdrie, according to Lynn Mackenzie, Municipal Enforcement team lead. Mackenzie said the exemption was adopted to fill a known service gap.
“Council approved the exemption to Bylaw No. B-55/2009 in 2010 because no Airdrie companies have an accessible vehicle,” she said.
“I guarantee if the City thinks they solved the problem with that exemption, they haven’t,” Benini said. “If you call Calgary to ask for an accessible cab to go from First Street to Safeway, I guarantee they’re not going to come out here for a $10 fare.”
According to Lynda Phelan, Corporate Communications team leader with the City of Airdrie, staff is looking into Benini’s request. However, she said a preliminary look at the information provided by the Province along with discussions she’s had with Transit Coordinator Chris McIsaac indicate taxis are not eligible funding because it’s intended for public transit only.
“I hope they get back to us with a positive result,” Benini said. “Because that GreenTrip money could be used to help out the (taxi) industry and help out the residents who want that service.”
Airdrie Transit offers a curb-to-curb service for customers requiring accessible transit service. ACCESS Airdrie operates within Airdrie Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on evenings and Saturdays via the Dial-a-Bus service. Customers must qualify for an ACCESS Airdrie transit card that requires an endorsement by a health care professional. The fare is the same as regular bus service; $2 each way with discounts for multiple tickets or monthly passes.
ACCESS Airdrie also provides accessible transit service to Calgary for medical appointments, skill development/training and visiting family and friends in hospital or extended care facilities. It is only available on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fare for this service varies depending on the distance from Airdrie and ranges from $10 to $16 each way.
Phelan said City staff would be reaching out to Calgary cab companies to make sure they know about the exemption in Airdrie’s bylaw. There are 20 taxi companies in Airdrie, according to Phelan.
“With all this competition, we can’t afford an accessible cab,” Benini said.
“That’s why none of the (Airdrie) companies have an accessible cab. We’re not making enough money and the industry is suffering.”
Chief Licensing Officer with the City of Calgary, Marc Halat, said they are aware of the issues and are working towards developing a regional service.
“We are in the process of engaging in a bylaw review to make sure whatever we do in terms of allowing our brother and sister cities to participate both ways, that we do it the right way,” Halat said. “We don’t want to deny our vulnerable sector their right to get to and from anywhere by taxi,” he added.
