New York City's Taxi & Limousine Commission Commissioner David Do joined "Mornings On 1" for an interview Thursday following a significant change in the city's regulations of Uber and Lyft vehicles.
The city on Wednesday removed the cap on for-hire vehicles operating on its streets, but with a condition that the cars be electric or wheelchair accessible.
"We charted a path yesterday with the mayor to ensure that by 2030, 100% of our high-volume for-hire vehicle fleet will be wheelchair accessible or electric, with zero emissions, and we're very excited by that," Do said.
The policy, known as "Green Rides," became effective immediately, overturning the cap that was imposed during the de Blasio administration in 2018. The cap was intended to stabilize driver wages and decrease traffic congestion.
Mayor Eric Adams said he now supports reopening the door to ride-share companies, but with a focus on environmentally friendly and accessible vehicles.
However, the issue now lies in the need for advancing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Do believes that as more drivers purchase electric vehicles, the private sector will meet demands.
"The city just put in a [Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant] of $35 million so that we can put curbside charging, where drivers live," he said.
When asked about potentially creating more congestion in Manhattan, Do argues that there are still 25,000 fewer for-hire vehicles in the city compared with pre-pandemic levels, and that the new initiative can help better serve areas in the outer boroughs.
He also highlighted the city’s Medallion Relief Program Plus for yellow taxi drivers, saying that the city is still committed to helping them avoid losing business to Uber and Lyft.
“Drivers are making more than ever in a yellow taxi. They're actually making more than some for-hire vehicle drivers, which is really amazing,” Do said. “We helped 2,200 medallion owners, saving them over $450 million worth of debt, and we're committed to continuing to support every driver who wants to participate in our MRP Plus Program."