Motion 2019-03 – On-Demand/For-Hire Ground Transportation Pilot Program Page 1 of 4

MOTION 2019-03:

A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

establishing a two-year pilot program for on-demand

taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-Tacoma

International Airport.

AMENDED AND ADOPTED

MAY 28, 2019

INTRODUCTION

The Port of Seattle has utilized exclusive agreements to provide on-demand taxi and for-hire

ground transportation services at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for many years. The

current agreement with the exclusive provider expires September 30, 2019. Port staff has

explored new options for service and recommend a pilot program based on the policy

framework of guiding principles for ground transportation services at Sea-Tac. These guiding

principles are to support customer choice; provide social equity; ensure accessibility; and

generate revenue for a sustainable airport, while reducing environmental impact and roadway

congestion.

The recommended approach balances equity issues, existing environmental and congestion

relief goals, and a minimum level of revenue to the port. During the two-year pilot program,

port staff will further study a broad-based program across all surface transportation modes at

the airport.

The Port of Seattle Commission is committed to making Sea-Tac the most accessible airport in

the nation. With continued passenger growth at Sea-Tac, increasing population in the county,

and an aging population, the Port of Seattle must ensure reliable, predictable, and high-quality

wheelchair accessible services at Sea-Tac.

To support this new relationship with the industry, the commission finds that both the port and

the on-demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire owner and operator community will benefit from a

facilitated relationship that highlights driver voices and establishes direct and regular

communication and consultation on operation of the on-demand transportation system. The

input received can help resolve the day-to-day issues that arise and inform the development

and outcomes of the pilot project.

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TEXT OF THE MOTION

The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive Director to establish a two-year pilot

program for on-demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to

include the following elements:

(1) Vehicle owners currently offering on-demand taxi and flat-rate for-hire services will

be retained during the pilot program through September 30, 2021.

(2) The number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles shall be increased from 18 to 23.

Additional wheelchair-vehicle operators will be chosen by lottery. The total number

of vehicles will be limited to no more than 410.

(3) Permits for every medallion will be issued by the Port of Seattle and will not be

transferable. Prior to issuance of permits, the Port will obtain, maintain, and update

complete vehicle ownership information on every vehicle.

(4) Owners may associate with any dispatch company.

(5) The port will collect an all-inclusive, per-trip fee of $6/trip.

(6) The port will contract separately for curb management services, which includes

passenger loading assistance, holding lot and queue management, equal access to

rotation of shifts among on-demand operators as outlined in current operating

procedures, and oversight of adherence to vehicle and operating rules and

requirements by owners/drivers.

(7) The Executive Director shall report to the commission within 30 days of adoption of

this motion on airport signage, physical accessibility and wayfinding (both digital and

print formats) to ground-transportation services for disabled passengers, and the

status of implementation of the primary recommendations of the 2017 Open Doors

report. Full implementation of the 2017 Open Doors Primary Recommendations of

pages 70-71 of the report shall be made a high priority for completion within 18

months from adoption of this motion.

(8) The port shall develop a reporting system with the ground-transportation curbside

manager to compile records of complaints and other service comments for

operations within the airport, including information on actions taken in response to

complaints and comments.

(9) The port will work with King County to install signage in vehicles operating in the

airport on-demand fleet that lists contact information for reporting of complaints

and other service comments directly to the port and assure that all complaints are

reported to the Port of Seattle.

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(10) There shall be quarterly outreach to owners and drivers for feedback and input on

the pilot program.

(11) The curbside manager will track and maintain records of the following:

(a) Wait time sampling of vehicle pick-ups

(b) Number of accessible trips and wait times

(d) Complaints lodged against operators and disposition

(e) Passenger service comments

(12) The Executive Director shall report to the commission on the operation of the pilot

program, including customer service and provision of accessible services, outreach

to people with disabilities and the general public, and any recommendations for

revisions, in one year from adoption of this motion.

(13) To improve accessible services, the port will develop a plan for wheelchair-accessible

transportation services at the airport to increase awareness and use of the on-

demand fleet and conduct research on potential improvements of accessible

transportation services to and from the airport, including collection of data on pre-

arranged airport transportation services.

(14) The commission directs the Port of Seattle Executive Director to engage with the on-

demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire owner and operator community at Seattle-Tacoma

International Airport to develop an agreement or memorandum of understanding

that will recognize a voluntary organization with at least five years of experience as a

not-for-profit organization operating in the state of Washington, that has an

established process for worker involvement in decision making, and that can

demonstrate support of at least 60 percent of operators included in the pilot

project.

(15) The voluntary organization and the port, along with other interested drivers and

owners, will explore the development of a process, available to all drivers and

owners, for input on the pilot program on items such as performance of the permit

relationship between the port, its curbside manager, and the owner/driver

community, including scheduling, compliance, dispute resolution, and other issues

related to management of the system.

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION

The port has extensively researched options for on-demand systems at the airport. The port

conducted and participated in three major multi-year, consultant-supported ground

transportation studies from 2015-2018 (Leigh Fisher – 2015, Transportation Research Board –

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

country and included recommendations for Sea-Tac Airport.

The port also held three public presentations on October 25, 2018, and two public

presentations on February 15 and one on February 28, 2019. Stakeholder representation

included multiple owner-operators, drivers, transportation network companies (TNCs, or

rideshares), dispatch companies, Teamsters, and other industry representatives.