Motion 2019-03 – On-Demand/For-Hire Ground Transportation Pilot Program Page 1 of 4
MOTION 2019-03:
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A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
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establishing a two-year pilot program for On-Demand
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Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service at Seattle-Tacoma
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International Airport.
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PROPOSED
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MAY 28, 2019
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INTRODUCTION
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The Port of Seattle has utilized exclusive agreements to provide on-demand taxi and for-hire
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ground transportation services at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for many years. The
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current agreement with the exclusive provider expires September 30, 2019. Port staff has
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explored new options for service and recommend a pilot program based on the policy
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framework of guiding principles for ground transportation services at Sea-Tac. These guiding
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principles are to support customer choice; provide social equity; ensure accessibility; generate
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revenue for a sustainable airport, while reducing environmental impact and roadway
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congestion.
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The recommended approach balances equity issues, existing environmental and congestion
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relief goals, and a minimum level of revenue to the Port. During the two-year pilot program,
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Port staff will further study a broad-based program across all surface transportation modes at
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the airport.
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The Port of Seattle Commission is committed to making Sea-Tac the most accessible airport in
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the nation. With continued passenger growth at Sea-Tac, increasing population in the County,
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and an aging population, the Port of Seattle must ensure reliable, predictable and high-quality
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wheelchair accessible services at Sea-Tac.
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To support this new relationship with the industry, the Commission finds that both the Port and
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the on-demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire owner and operator community will benefit from a
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facilitated relationship that highlights driver voices and establishes direct and regular
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communication and consultation on operation of the on-demand transportation system. The
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input received can help resolve the day-to-day issues that arise and inform the development
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and outcomes of the pilot project.
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Item Number: 8a_motion
Meeting Date: May 28, 2019
Motion 2019-03 – On-Demand/For-Hire Ground Transportation Pilot Program Page 2 of 4
TEXT OF THE MOTION
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The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive Director to establish a two-year pilot
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program for On-Demand Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
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to include the following elements:
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(1) Vehicle owners currently offering on-demand taxi and flat-rate for-hire services will
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be retained during the pilot program through September 30, 2021.
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(2) The number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles shall be increased from 18 to 23.
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Additional wheelchair-vehicle operators will be chosen by lottery. The total number
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of vehicles will be limited to no more than 410.
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(3) Permits for every vehicle/owner(s) will be issued by the Port of Seattle and will not
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be transferable. Prior to issuance of permits, the Port will obtain complete
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ownership information on every vehicle.
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(4) Owners may associate with any dispatch company.
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(5) The Port will collect an all-inclusive, per-trip fee of $6/trip.
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(6) The Port will contract separately for curb management services, which includes
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passenger loading assistance, holding lot and queue management, equal access to
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rotation of shifts among on-demand operators as outlined in current operating
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procedures, and oversight of adherence to vehicle and operating rules and
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requirements by owners/drivers.
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(7) The Executive Director shall report to the Commission within 30 days of adoption of
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this motion on airport signage, physical accessibility and wayfinding (both digital and
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print formats) to ground-transportation services for disabled passengers, and the
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status of implementation of the primary recommendations of the 2017 Open Doors
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report.
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(8) The Port shall develop a reporting system with the ground-transportation curbside
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manager to compile records of complaints and other service comments for
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operations within the airport, including information on actions taken in response to
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complaints and comments.
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(9) The Port will work with King County to install signage in vehicles operating in the
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airport on-demand fleet that lists contact information for reporting of complaints
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and other service comments directly to the Port and assure that all complaints are
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reported to the Port of Seattle.
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Motion 2019-03 – On-Demand/For-Hire Ground Transportation Pilot Program Page 3 of 4
(10) There shall be quarterly outreach to owners and drivers for feedback and input on
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the pilot program.
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(11) The curbside manager will track and maintain records of the following:
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a) Wait time sampling of vehicle pick-ups
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b) Number of accessible trips and wait times
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c) Number of trips per operator
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d) Complaints lodged against operators and disposition
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e) Passenger service comments
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(12) The Executive Director shall report to the Commission on the operation of the pilot
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program, including customer service and provision of accessible services, and any
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recommendations for revisions, in one year from adoption of this motion.
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(13) To improve accessible services, the Port will develop a plan for wheelchair-accessible
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transportation services at the airport to increase awareness and use of the on-demand
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fleet and conduct research on potential improvements of accessible transportation
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services to and from the airport, including collection of data on pre-arranged airport
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transportation services.
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(14) The Commission directs the Port of Seattle Executive Director to engage with the on-
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demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire owner and operator community at Seattle-Tacoma
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International Airport to develop an agreement or memorandum of understanding that
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will recognize a voluntary organization with at least five years of experience as a not-for-
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profit organization operating in the state of Washington, that has an established process
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for worker involvement in decision making, and that can demonstrate support of at
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least 60 percent of operators included in the pilot project.
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(15) The voluntary organization and the Port, along with other interested drivers and
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owners, will explore the development of a process, available to all drivers and owners,
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for input on the pilot program on items such as performance of the permit relationship
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between the Port, its curbside manager, and the owner/driver community, including
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scheduling, compliance, dispute resolution, and other issues related to management of
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the system.
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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
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The Port has extensively researched options for on-demand systems at the airport. The Port
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conducted and participated in three major multi-year, consultant-supported Ground
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Transportation studies from 2015-2018 (Leigh Fisher – 2015, Transportation Research Board –
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2015, Ricondo – 2017/2018). The Leigh Fisher and Ricondo work were supported by significant
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stakeholder outreach and identified best practices for ground transportation models across the
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country and included recommendations for Sea-Tac Airport.
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Motion 2019-03 – On-Demand/For-Hire Ground Transportation Pilot Program Page 4 of 4
The Port also held three public presentations on October 25, 2018, and two public
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presentations on February 15 and one on February 28, 2019. Stakeholder representation
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included multiple owner-operators, drivers, transportation network companies (TNCs, or
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rideshares), dispatch companies, Teamsters, and other industry representatives.
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