As a new accessible taxi company works to get up and running, it’s looking to the Timmins Police Services for a commitment when it’s ready to put cars on the road.
Rick Beaudry is in the process of starting Accessible Transportation Services (ATS) in Timmins.
He talked to the police services board, who issues taxi license permits, this week about his vision.
As he works to get the foundation of the business in place, he’s looking for a level of commitment from the board that when he requires permits for the accessible taxi licenses, the board will issue them.
Providing that Beaudry meets all the requirements in the city’s bylaw, the board passed a resolution agreeing to provide four accessible taxi licenses to Accessible Transportation Services.
Beaudry’s goal is to have four vehicles with accessible plates, which he would require plate permits for, as well as two Mercedes Benz Sprinters to use for bigger bookings such as weddings, anniversaries and mass pickups at the airport. The larger vehicles transporting nine or more people do not need a taxi license.
“Being that there was a little issue regarding transportation not just for those with mobility issues but regular folk in South End, I figured just to tilt the scale more in my favour I’ll put a station in South End. We’re looking at the property at the corner of Falcon and Highway 101, it’s already zoned,” Beaudry said.
For a taxi service, Police Chief John Gauthier explained some of the basic items the bylaw requires is an existing phone line for people to call, a dispatching system with two-way communication between the stand and a driver, a building, and liability insurance.
There are four accessible taxi plates in the city right now, two with each of the existing companies. None are being used.
“Since I believe it was October or November of 2017, neither one of the current taxi companies here in the City of Timmins has put one of those cars on the road,” said Gauthier.
Gauthier said a previous police board also approved the creation of up to 10 additional accessible taxi plates.
Last summer, the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) tried to drum up support for an accessible taxi minivan.
The group set up at the Urban Park Market downtown Timmins with an accessible minivan for people to check out and show support for the service.
For people with mobility issues, the city operates Handy Transit, but clients have to be registered and pre-book services.
“Our citizens are out there not being able to get around, that’s not right,” Beaudry told the board. “And if you guys kind of help out, I can get this up and running ASAP and if you guys don’t like what I do, call it a pilot project, shut me down, if you don’t like what I’m doing, but I guarantee you’re going to love what I’m doing.”
Coun. Joe Campbell, who is a member of the police services board and also sits on MAAC, said Beaudry has come forward with a positive plan.
He also noted the $20,000 incentive MAAC has for a company willing to invest in an accessible cab.
“Basically there was an incentive offered to the current cab companies, a financial incentive by MAAC, and neither one of them took advantage of it at that point, so they did not express much of an interest in it,” Campbell said.
