Order 2023-03 – Establish Program for On-Demand Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service Page 1 of 2
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ORDER 2023-03 4
AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 5
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To establish a program for on-demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-7
Tacoma International Airport, for a period of up to five years. 8
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PROPOSED 10
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 11
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INTRODUCTION 13
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Following a three year pilot project, the Port of Seattle Commission has engaged in robust 15
oversight and stakeholder outreach with the taxi/flat-rate for-hire pilot program drivers. The 16
following Order lays out the elements of the proposed program, including the new items such as 17
education and outreach on the virtual queue option; emphasizes curbside manager customer 18
service training and enforce compliance; and exploration of a driver training and development 19
programs. 20
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TEXT OF THE ORDER 22
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The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive Director to establish the program for on-24
demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to include the 25
following elements: 26
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• The Port will enter into new operating agreements with medallion owners associated with 28
the current On-Demand Taxi/For-hire Pilot Program; medallion owners will be retained 29
through March 1, 2028. 30
• Transfer of operating agreements will be allowed only for legitimate purposes, with 31
aviation staff to provide guidance for drivers on how such purposes are defined. 32
• The Port will collect an all-inclusive, per-trip fee of $6/trip with a direct payment from the 33
driver to SEA. 34
• The Port will explore virtual queue options with operators through outreach, education, 35
and consultation with the driver community, with the understanding that implementation 36
of any virtual queue option requires Commission action. 37
• The Port will contract with and pay for curbside management. 38
• The Port will continue quarterly stakeholder outreach. 39
• The Port will continue to recognize the Voluntary Driver Organization authorized by 40
Motion 2019-03 to facilitate driver feedback on the taxi/flat-rate for-hire program and will 41
continue meeting on a regular basis with the Voluntary Driver Organization. 42
The Port shall explore and develop a driver training and workforce development program 43
for interested drivers. 44
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Agenda Item No. 10c_order
Meeting Date: February 14, 2023
Order 2023-03 – Establish Program for On-Demand Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service Page 2 of 2
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• The Port Commission Aviation Committee, or designees, shall review the ground 48
transportation dispute resolution system at the airport for improvement with drivers and 49
the Voluntary Driver Organization, and report the results to the Commission by August 30, 50
2023. The Committee, or designee, shall also explore marketing alternatives for the 51
taxi/flat-rate for-hire program, or designee. 52
• The Port shall also review and emphasize contractual customer service standards for the 53
curbside manager to ensure compliance and provide a report to the Commission on 54
compliance within six months of passage of this Order. 55
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Per the letter from the Port of Seattle to King County Council urging adoption of a minimum fare 57
for taxi/for hire trips from SEA, the Executive Director shall report to the Commission within 90 58
days of the adoption of this Order on the status of King County’s proposed changes to taxi/for-hire 59
trips throughout King County. If King County does not institute a countywide minimum fare 60
solution by the end of 2023, the Commission will consider a minimum fare that only applies to the 61
taxi/for-hire drivers permitted to pick up on-demand passengers at SEA. 62
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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER 64
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As presented to the Commission by the Executive Director and staff, implementation of the 66
taxi/for-hire program includes ongoing, robust, and good faith dialogue with operators, drivers, 67
and medallion owners to identify and mitigate issues and concerns as they arise. The airport 68
taxi/for-hire program currently includes a structured process to facilitate ongoing and regular 69
dialogue with drivers, operators, and representatives through the Voluntary Driver Organization, 70
as well as the role of the Port in the oversight of the curbside management contractor and conflict 71
resolution. 72
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Program implementation will include collaboration by the Port with drivers and operators in 74
identifying workforce development programs that may be beneficial to drivers, including programs 75
requiring a commercial drivers’ license (CDL) and pathways to other ground transportation, truck 76
transport, logistics, or other family wage trade and transportation-related career fields. 77
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Included in the implementation is a review by the Port of the requirements of the contract for 79
curbside management services, current training requirements for conflict resolution for curbside 80
manager employees, and the evaluation of training requirements in future contracts to ensure 81
training and management of curbside services. 82
