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Director David Do
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Accessibility and Mobility
My primary focus is the importance of ensuring the District's residents and visitors have the type of transportation options in the for-hire ride industry.
This is the time of year when families and friends make an extra effort to get together. There is usually a bit of over indulgence in food and drink in celebration of the togetherness. Thus, with colder temperatures and early darkness in combination with all that eating and drinking, everyone is advised to consider summoning a for-hire ride.
The Bowser Administration has been quite supportive of establishing an environment where the public can choose how to travel. In addition to traditional taxis and popular ride sharing companies like Lyft, Uber and Via, the Department of For-Hire Vehicles continues to develop responses to shortcomings in the marketplace.
Our programs include Transport DC, DC Microtransit, and Taxi-2-Rail (T2R). Our grant programs have helped to fund VetRides, Education First, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), and Senior MedExpress. We have already seen increased interest from taxi drivers to transition to operating wheelchair accessible vehicles due to the impact of the Union Station Fast Pass program. The data shows that our efforts to meet consumer needs for transportation is clear and successfully offering services for particular demographics (i.e., seniors, persons with disabilities, youth) and specific areas (i.e., Wards 7 & 8, neighborhoods underserved by public transportation)
As this special season arrives I hope you spend some time with the people you enjoy and get to them safely...and let's give thanks for the opportunity to be together.
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2020 Operating Authority Renewal
The Department of For-Hire Vehicles reminds all District of Columbia Taxicab Companies and Independent Vehicle Owners that the deadline to renew Operating Authority
is fast approaching. Applications are due by 4:30 pm on Monday, December 16, 2019.
Call 202 645-7300 if you have any questions or concerns.
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Compliance and Enforcement
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| DFHV enhances compliance efforts with License Plate Recognition technology |
The Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) has implemented the use of License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology in conjunction with e-citation capability to enhance compliance efforts. The intent is to support the safety standards by ensuring for-hire vehicles are legally registered to be on-duty to provide ride services to the public.
Along with this enhancement,
Mayor Bowser recently announced that the District is adding 26 new Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO) to focus on bike lane safety in support of the city's Vision Zero DC initiative. The Department of Public Works (DPW) began assigning new PEOs on November 12.
DPW currently has 272 PEOs who cover 109 locations during five eight-hour shifts. More officers will be deployed in locations where additional resources are needed to help change behavior and improve safety based on surveillance and 311 requests. In addition to making bike lanes safer, these additional resources should also assist to make travel more efficient.
"This use of technological improvements and mobilization of additional PEOs is an example of District agencies constantly analyzing how we can use our resources more effectively to best serve District residents," observed Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure Lucinda Babers.
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Union Station Fast Pass
The Union Station Fast Pass pilot program has been successfully launched with the intent to i
ncrease the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) in service for residents and support accessibility for visitors to the District. This program provides top performing taxicab drivers with WAVs to receive priority entry to the front of the popular taxi line at Union Station.
This program aims to reward drivers who transport passengers in WAVs, incentivize operators to increase the availability of WAV service, and provide additional income opportunities. Each month, DFHV will review WAV trip logs of drivers providing transportation service to Transport DC participants. The top-performing drivers, based on those logs, will qualify for the Union Station Fast Pass. The pass will be valid for one month. The pilot program will run for six months
During the six-month pilot, DFHV will monitor the program's results to evaluate the potential for expansion. Early results already show promise with 15 drivers currently participating. They have provided 577 rides, which translates to just over $1,000 in additional revenue per driver. In addition, more taxi drivers have expressed interest in obtaining WAVs.
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For-Hire Vehicle Advisory Council Meeting
Please be advised that the next meeting of the For-Hire Vehicle Advisory Council is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 10:00 am. The purpose of the For-Hire Vehicle Advisory Council is to advise DFHV on all matters related to the regulation of the vehicle-for-hire industry. The meeting will be held at DFHV, 2235 Shannon Place, SE, in the Second Floor Hearing Room. The agenda is posted at least 5 days prior to the meeting.
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Open Enrollment: DC HealthLink
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| #GetCoveredDC #StayCoveredDC |
Open enrollment is here! DC residents can sign-up for high-quality, affordable health insurance at DCHealthLink.com. The District's health insurance marketplace was established under the Affordable Care Act. Open enrollment for District residents runs through January 31, 2020. However, for coverage to be effective January 1, 2020, residents must enroll by December 15.
DC Health Link has provided health insurance to more than 20,000 residents through the individual marketplace and almost 95,000 people through the small business marketplace. Small businesses, as well as individuals and families, can enroll to get coverage. Some residents may also qualify for reduced premiums.
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| Deputy Mayor of Operations and Infrastructure Lucinda Babers and DFHV Director David Do recognize the extraordinary efforts of the DFHV Enforcement Staff that provided support to traffic management operations during the World Series including VIO Morgan (5th from the right) saving a person's life. |
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| Capital Region Transportation Forum (L to R) - Adam Tuss, Reporter, NBC-4; Shannon Valentine, Secretary of Transportation, VA; Jeff Marootian, Director, DC Department of Transportation; Pete Rahn, Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation |
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| Mayor Bowser led a delegation to visit Ethiopia to recognize the country's contributions to our Nation's Capital and strengthen our cultural, educational and economic ties |
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Contact Information
All owners and operators licensed by or registered with the Department of For-Hire Vehicles are required to maintain their current contact information on file which must include a current mailing address, phone number and email address. Client Services will not conduct a transaction without verification.
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Tell Us What You Think
DFHV appreciates your feedback. The suggestions and observations received from those in the industry, related stakeholders and the general public provide valuable insight that shapes our policies, programs and regulations.
Give Feedback
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