Vancouver needs to expand its taxi service to meet the demands of a rising population and a growing tourism sector, according to a City Hall report obtained by CTV.
An expansion of the existing fleet is also needed as the city gears up to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2010, the report says
In order to meet that demand, Vancouver City Council will be asked next Tuesday to issue another 122 taxicab licenses for 2008/2009.
A minimum of 15 per cent of the licenses issued should be for wheelchair accessible vehicles, the report said.
The administrative report that is recommending the increase says new taxi licenses issued in 2007 have helped to alleviate long wait times, particularly at the cruise ship terminal, and have provided a higher number of dual taxicabs for the mobility impaired.
However, it said more taxicabs are necessary to respond to an increasing population and growth in tourism.
The proposal to add another 122 licenses is based on a taxicab licensing program to the year 2010 that was approved by City Council in 2007. The 111 licenses that were approved last year, brought the total number that is currently in existence to 588.
The request for additional licenses is expected to be discussed at a City Council committee meeting at 9.30 a.m., Tuesday morning. Ratification is expected to be a formality.
