NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi
Boston—Both the New England Livery Association (NELA) and The Transportation Alliance (formerly the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association) were represented at a July 23 hearing on behalf of two house bills that each entity supports.
NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi was joined by The Alliance’s Executive Vice President John Boit (who’s also Senior Founding Partner of its PR firm Melwood Global) and President-Elect Tom Arrighi of A &A Metro Transportation at the Massachusetts State House last week to speak in favor of each proposal.
The Transportation Alliance President-Elect Tom Arrighi of A & A Metro TransportationThe trio testified on behalf of HB-1066, which would require the fingerprinting of TNC drivers, and HB-943, which would establish a commission to examine transportation fees, with a proposed amendment to add a representative of each industry group (taxicabs, luxury ground transportation, hackneys, and TNCs) to the commission.
The Transportation Alliance Executive Vice President John BoitThe amendment currently reads as follows:
“There shall be a commission which shall study the state and local fees assessed to transportation for hire companies and services including taxis, livery, hackneys and transportation network companies. The commission shall further study the relation of fees to congestion. The members of the commission shall be as follows: the secretary of the department of transportation, or a designee, who shall be the chair; the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation; a representative from Massachusetts Municipal Association; a representative of a ride-for-hire or transportation network company; and a member of a consumer group to be appointed by the governor. The commission shall file a report with its findings, including any legislative and regulatory recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house and representatives not later than December 31, 2020."
Check back with our September issue of Chauffeur Driven for more coverage following NELA’s and the Alliance’s advocacy efforts on behalf of these bills.
Visit nelivery.org or thetransportationalliance.org for more information about either organization.
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