Neal: Saw your article in Nation’s Cities Weekly. As an owner of a Toyota Prius since 2003 I don’t know why more cities and cabbies are not using hybrids. They really pay off when sitting in traffic or at a light when my engine turns off. I happened to be in Seattle and rented the latest version which was significantly larger and had lots of power to peel away from the light (if one needed to) and only used 2 gallons of gas for the 100 miles I drove. Sweet.

Nice column on taxicabs, but you miss the problem entirely. The Ford Crown Victoria is built like a tank. Taxi fleets buy them new—that is, newly retired from police service at about 100,000 miles. Because they are such reliable beasts, taxis get another 400,000 or so miles out of them, with and through continuous maintenance programs.

Even with that maintenance, the amortization cost—the cost of operation over the life of the vehicle—is much lower than anything we have tried, except, perhaps, a Compressed Natural Gas vehicle—which is why Crown Vics are being converted around the country to CNG.

If New York City and Congress want a faster conversion of taxi fleets, for environmental reasons, they have to help us with that amortization cost—-in Seattle, certainly, most vehicles are owned by individuals , and the amortization cost of a Prius just does not pencil out.

Also, Toyota has said the vehicle is simply not suitable as a taxicab. The high amortization cost would have to be recovered—from consumers or taxicab operators or somewhere. That is the Gordian knot we are trying to untie.

Your attention to the issue is most appreciated, but an incomplete picture simply makes that knot more difficult to untie.

I am a lobbyist for various taxicab associations in Seattle and Washington State, including Yellow Cab.

Rob

I’m just coming across this now, but you hit the nail on the head with this post. I live on the Huntersville/Cornelius border in Birkdale Village. Although I think the immediate area around where I live is ok because I can walk to shops, bike to work on the greenway down the street from my house, and walk my dogs in the stand of trees that will someday be Robbins Park, I think the greater Lake Norman area is like a snapshot of Atlanta 20 or so years ago. Sad to say that I don’t think it’s going to get better anytime soon either. Maybe the North Main Line will get funding approved and get things back on track, but I can’t say that I’m too optimistic.

Chris

Thanks, Neal, for explaining some of the benefits of this important program. Too often positive policy shifts — like the TIGER program — are ignored by the media. Hopefully, with commentary like yours the word will get out.

The $25 million for Detroit is in no way shape or form for “its first-ever” transit line (as the original text — now fixed — indicated). . As I’m sure you know, Detroit was the envy during the first half of the 20th century for having the most modern and sophisticated street-car/transit commuter system in the country. If anything, it should be termed as funding to help get Detroit “back to the future”.

Love your stuff and make sure it gets distributed widely in my organization and throughout Michigan. Thanks for all you do on behalf of cities and working to create livable and prosperous 21st century communities.

Arnold Weinfeld