Order 2023-03 – Establish Program for On-Demand Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service Page 1 of 2

RDER 2023-03

N ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

To establish a program for on-demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-

Tacoma International Airport, for a period of up to five years.

ADOPTED

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

INTRODUCTION

Following a three year pilot project, the Port of Seattle Commission has engaged in robust

oversight and stakeholder outreach with the taxi/flat-rate for-hire pilot program drivers. The

following Order lays out the elements of the proposed program, including the new items such as

education and outreach on the virtual queue option; emphasizes curbside manager customer

service training and enforce compliance; and exploration of a driver training and development

programs.

TEXT OF THE ORDER

The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive Director to establish the program for on-

demand taxi/flat-rate for-hire service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to include the

following elements:

• The Port will enter into new operating agreements with medallion owners associated with

the current On-Demand Taxi/For-hire Pilot Program; medallion owners will be retained

through March 1, 2028.

• Transfer of operating agreements will be allowed only for legitimate purposes, with

aviation staff to provide guidance for drivers on how such purposes are defined.

• The Port will collect an all-inclusive, per-trip fee of $6/trip with a direct payment from the

driver to SEA.

• The Port will explore virtual queue options with operators through outreach, education,

and consultation with the driver community, with the understanding that implementation

of any virtual queue option requires Commission action.

• The Port will contract with and pay for curbside management.

• The Port will continue quarterly stakeholder outreach.

• The Port will continue to recognize the Voluntary Driver Organization authorized by

Motion 2019-03 to facilitate driver feedback on the taxi/flat-rate for-hire program and will

continue meeting on a regular basis with the Voluntary Driver Organization.

The Port shall explore and develop a driver training and workforce development program

for interested drivers.

Item No. 10a – attach 2

Meeting Date: December 12, 2023

Order 2023-03 – Establish Program for On-Demand Taxi/Flat-Rate For-Hire Service Page 2 of 2

• The Port Commission Aviation Committee, or designees, shall review the ground

transportation dispute resolution system at the airport for improvement with drivers and

the Voluntary Driver Organization, and report the results to the Commission by August 30,

2023. The Committee, or designee, shall also explore marketing alternatives for the

taxi/flat-rate for-hire program, or designee.

• The Port shall also review and emphasize contractual customer service standards for the

curbside manager to ensure compliance and provide a report to the Commission on

compliance within six months of passage of this Order.

Per the letter from the Port of Seattle to King County Council urging adoption of a minimum fare

for taxi/for hire trips from SEA, the Executive Director shall report to the Commission within 90

days of the adoption of this Order on the status of King County’s proposed changes to taxi/for-hire

trips throughout King County. If King County does not institute a countywide minimum fare

solution by the end of 2023, the Commission will consider a minimum fare that only applies to the

taxi/for-hire drivers permitted to pick up on-demand passengers at SEA.

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER

As presented to the Commission by the Executive Director and staff, implementation of the

taxi/for-hire program includes ongoing, robust, and good faith dialogue with operators, drivers,

and medallion owners to identify and mitigate issues and concerns as they arise. The airport

taxi/for-hire program currently includes a structured process to facilitate ongoing and regular

dialogue with drivers, operators, and representatives through the Voluntary Driver Organization,

as well as the role of the Port in the oversight of the curbside management contractor and conflict

resolution.

Program implementation will include collaboration by the Port with drivers and operators in

identifying workforce development programs that may be beneficial to drivers, including programs

requiring a commercial drivers’ license (CDL) and pathways to other ground transportation, truck

transport, logistics, or other family wage trade and transportation-related career fields.

Included in the implementation is a review by the Port of the requirements of the contract for

curbside management services, current training requirements for conflict resolution for curbside

manager employees, and the evaluation of training requirements in future contracts to ensure

training and management of curbside services.