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- Category: Industry News
By Matt Daus
New Yorkers will have their chance on June 22 to whittle down the list of candidates running for the city’s most important position. Since the last mayoral election, the way people move around the city has changed and could change even more during the next four years. None of the candidates are talking about urban air mobility (UAM) or automated vehicles, but they should be—it is happening elsewhere and is inevitable. In fact, two of the leading automakers in our industry—GM and Ford—have announced a step up in their timeline and spending for electric and autonomous vehicles. Sadly, New York City’s transportation system lags behind many cities in the US and internationally, and it will continue to do so simply because transportation innovation has never really been a top priority.
Matt Daus of Windels Marx
The agencies tasked with regulating passenger transportation have been slow to adjust to the changes in technology. There is, at the very least, a lack of accountability, oversight, and coordination between and among city and state agencies and public and private transport modes. Right now, transportation-related functions, responsibilities and policy-making are spread out across numerous independent agencies. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) oversees taxis, for-hire vehicles, green cabs, black cars, liveries, limousines, paratransit, and commuter vans. The Department of Transportation oversees scooters, bike sharing, shared micromobility networks, as well as transportation infrastructure and traffic control of vehicles on the streets, while the state-run MTA controls the subways, buses, and rail. The Department of Sanitation is responsible for cleaning the streets, and the Street Activity Permit Office within the Mayor’s Office issues permits to close the streets for festivals, block parties, farmers markets, and other events. The Department of Finance is responsible for Parking Violations, while the New York City Policy Department has police powers and can issue traffic tickets. The Fleet Division of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services oversees the city fleet, except for school buses, which fall to the Department of Education. I am sure there may be more, but that is the point. Transportation responsibilities are in silos, and spread around—so that everyone has a piece of the puzzle, but no sees the big picture to piece it all together. There needs to be a Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Infrastructure to oversee transportation policy, transportation infrastructure, and all transportation-related agencies and functions in city government as well as a master plan to prioritize policies to ensure affordable and efficient transportation.
The next NYC mayor should create a Transportation Master Innovation Plan as part of the reorganization of transportation policy and oversight. This plan should prioritize policies to ensure affordable and efficient transportation, using a multi-modal approach to promote clean air and sustainability, resiliency, equity and accessibility for all. Some initial ideas and priorities could include:
- Implementing Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) so that uniform payment can be made for private and public transport connections that are seamless, using a city smartphone application (identifying the most sustainable, fastest, and least expensive routes from point A to B, with every mode represented and available on one platform—taxis, public buses, trains, bike shares, scooter, etc.);
- An overhaul of the Access-A-Ride (AAR) system to exclusively use the many under-utilized wheelchair accessible taxicabs and green cabs with one smartphone app and phone number, available on-demand to any AAR eligible user, and also to non-eligible users as well;
- Implement first and last mile partnerships to promote equity, with free transfers from public transit to neighborhood livery car services and commuter vans (dollar vans), as part of public private partnerships (including livery stand and other franchise opportunities);
- Reduce the size of the city’s vehicle fleet and instead use the many for-hire vehicles and taxicabs to help deliver meals to seniors, engage in package delivery, and to transport city employees;
- Promote electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by installing fast-charging infrastructure on city property, including parking lots, and in strategic residential areas around the city, as well as on curb front property at taxi and FHV relief stands; and
- Provide EV incentives to all modes to increase the number of EVs on the road in the taxicab, private bus, and for-hire vehicle industries (ideas could include: priority queuing and parking; access to priority or express lanes; exemptions from congestion charges; city grants to offset the purchase of new EVs; and waiver of all TLC licensing fees or any other city fees).
This is an important and pivotal election in many ways as the city, nation, and world reemerge after the pandemic alongside a new economy and critical shifts in policy happening here and around the world. The shutdown actually accelerated this realignment, and NYC has to catch up to its counterparts all across the globe. My hope is that the next mayor will be able to unite these disparate agencies with a collective goal so that the city can move forward and shape policies for decades to come.
[06.11.21]
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- Category: Industry News
Andi Gray, an award-winning business leader, growth expert for small businesses, and founder of Strategy Leaders, will spearhead a workshop on valuations and understanding small to midsize (SMB) business value on June 16 at noon ET. Gray and the Strategy Leaders team have been frequent speakers at industry events and a regular contributor to Chauffeur Driven.
Strategy Leaders Founder Andi Gray
For most business owners, their business is their most valuable asset, other than their home, and yet few business owners know realistically what their business is worth. During the webinar, Gray is expected to give first-hand accounts of what a valuation can do for a company, what to look for and expect, and what to avoid. The session is geared for business owners of 10-200 employees looking to understand how the valuation process works.
Gray, in her signature delivery, will review real-life case studies of business valuations and discuss what happened in each case, and ultimately which company had a higher value. Attendees are expected to leave the webinar with key action takeaways for understanding valuations and how to increase the value of your business. Whether you’re interested in buying or thinking about selling, this webinar is designed to cover all the topics you need to know to get you started in the right direction.
Additionally, Gray will discuss:
- Why should a business owner get a valuation?
- The typical barriers that business owners run into when trying to get a valuation
- Using valuations as tools for exit planning and growth by acquisition
- What buyers are looking for and how you can prepare your business to meet those needs
- What is a valuation and what should be included
- What to look for in a valuation
- Variables and case studies
You can register for the free webinar here.
Visit strategyleaders.com for more information.
[06.15.21]
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- Category: Industry News
Summer’s here. And while much of the country is thinking about graduations, BBQs, and fireworks, here at CD, our thoughts have turned to the fall, more specifically the 2021 CD/NLA Show in the Dallas area scheduled for October 10-13. We're looking forward to bringing our annual event to the Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center for what may be our most monumental show yet-and we know you can't wait either! As hard as it is to believe, it's been more than 16 months since our last in-person event, so we're overdue for some quality time with our friends and colleagues again. Many thanks to our Title Sponsor Ford Lincoln Limousine & Livery for their part in making this special event possible.
Have you taken the time to visit cdnlashow.com yet? If not, be sure to head over there this week to take advantage of our early-bird rate of $399 for a full show pass. What's more, NLA members can save $75 on top of that incredible rate. While that pricing is good until August 13, you don't want to miss out. To make things even more enticing, the Gaylord Texan is offering an exclusive room rate of $219 per night for all CD/NLA Show attendees-an unbelievable rate for this luxurious all-under-one-roof venue. These offers will be gone before you know it, so now is the time to register and save some $$! To register, click here.
In the coming weeks, cdnlashow.com will be expanded with everything you need to know about the upcoming show. Soon, you'll be able to get the lowdown on all our events and sessions, from world-class educational programs and nighttime networking events to the Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum and the expansive show floor.
Vendors and exhibitors take note: exhibiting opportunities on our always-busy show floor are now available. Anticipation for this show is at an all-time high, so you can bet that prime spots will move quickly. If you're interested exhibiting on our show floor-or sponsoring an event-contact Chris Weiss at chris@chauffeurdriven.com for more information.
Meanwhile, the CD/NLA Education Committee has been hard at work assembling a roster of sessions that will inspire while offering instant takeaway for operators of all sizes as we face a whole new economy in the post-COVID landscape.
“Dallas is going to sizzle!” says Educational Committee Co-chair Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite. “We've all learned so much about ourselves and our businesses over the past 15 months that the educational program will overflow with great content. So many operators have suffered unimaginable losses, some have not survived, and all have had reinvent themselves in some respect. The sessions we have planned are geared toward lessons learned in preparedness, survival, recovery, strategy, and much more. Many of our sessions will be interactive, so operators will be able to share some of the successes with their fellow attendees. It will probably one of the best opportunities as we all have something to share and learn right now.”
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
[06.15.21]