NOTICES
PHILADELPHIA
PARKING AUTHORITY
Petition for Changes to Taxicab Tariff; Doc. No. 22-001
[52 Pa.B. 3919]
[Saturday, July 9, 2022]
Order By the Authority:
The Authority is the sole regulator of all taxicab, limousine and transportation network company services in Philadelphia.1 The Authority is empowered to conduct rate investigations and determine the rates that shall be charged by all taxicabs authorized to provide call or demand service in Philadelphia.2
Additionally, Authority regulations require that a request for flexible pricing model must include a proposed framework for consumer protections that involve upfront disclosure of the fare in a way that is not contingent upon consumer request and the flexible pricing model will be computed to not violate the Price Gouging Act (73 P.S. §§ 232.1—232.5). See 52 Pa. Code § 1030.2 (relating to taxicab rates and tariffs).
On March 30, 2021, the Authority authorized the Taxicab and Limousine Division (''TLD'') to reopen a rate investigation to gather information and comment concerning the petition that was filed with the TLD seeking ''to allow for up-front pricing or to allow approved PPA smartphone app-based providers and Philadelphia medallion taxicabs to calculate their own fare outside of the taxicab meter but must provide passengers with binding up-front fare quote to offer passengers with the same price certainty as transportation network companies (TNCs)''.3 Specifically, the petition sought to allow an upfront pricing model to be offered to all customers using the Curb smartphone application4 to be accepted by any available medallion taxicab operating through the approved meter system.5
The TLD sought written comments from the industry members and the general public. However, no comments were submitted. The TLD began its investigation of the upfront pricing model that was being tested with only a limited number of Curb app users. Based upon the TLD's recommendation from its investigative findings, on December 14, 2021, the Authority authorized the implementation of a pilot program to allow for the upfront pricing model to be available for testing to all Curb users to be accepted by any available medallion taxicab operating through the approved meter system. The TLD was directed by the Authority to continue to investigate and gather information concerning the pilot program and report its findings to the Authority within six months.6
Based upon review of all information received and recommendation of TLD staff, Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved and Ordered by the Board of the Authority as follows:
Section 1. Upfront Pricing.
(a) Effective July 1, 2022, the taxicab tariff is to be amended to allow for an upfront flex fare pricing model, outside of the current taxicab tariff and meter system, for medallion taxicab trips in Philadelphia that are initiated through the Authority approved taxicab Curb smartphone application, and such fares are calculated based upon an algorithm of both live and historical trip data, including metered fares, traffic and wait times;
(b) All other rates as outlined in the current taxicab tariff shall remain unchanged.
Section 2. Action by Taxicab and Limousine Division.
(a) The TLD staff shall broadcast this Order to all members of the taxicab industry by email as well as posting it on the Authority's website and within TLD Headquarters along with depositing this Order with the Pennsylvania Bulletin for publishing.
BETH C. GROSSMAN, Esq.,
ChairpersonALFRED W. TAUBENBERGER,
Vice ChairpersonORDER ADOPTED: JUNE 28, 2022
ORDER ENTERED: JUNE 28, 2022
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-1029. Filed for public inspection July 8, 2022, 9:00 a.m.] _______
1 See the act of July 16, 2004, (P.L. 758, No. 94), 53 Pa.C.S. §§ 5701 et seq., as amended, (the ''act'')
2 See 53 Pa.C.S. §§ 5703 and 5720 (relating to rates, wages).
3 See TLD Docket No. P-21-03-01 Petition for Rate Change, filed by taxicab driver Ronald Blount on March 8, 2021.
4 Curb is a current taxicab meter system vendor that provides taxicab meter equipment and associated software to medallion taxicabs associated with the certified dispatchers operating in Philadelphia. Curb also currently provides an application for smart devices to e-hail and/or e-pay for a Philadelphia taxicab trip.
5 See Authority Order No. 21-003 Petition for Changes to Taxicab Tariff, March 30, 2021.
6 See Authority Order No. 21-004 Petition for Changes to Taxicab Tariff, December 14, 2021.
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