Lombard to undertake review of existing taxicab, livery provisions

LOMBARD, Illinois—Following the directive from the Lombard Economic & Community Development Committee (ECDC) at its July 31, 2012 meeting, the Village will be undertaking a review of existing regulations pertaining to the operations of taxicabs and limousines within the Village of Lombard.

ECDC directed that Village staff seek input from local taxi and livery businesses and develop proposed code revisions to provide the opportunity for liveries to participate in Lombard's senior coupon program and to pick up customers at the Lombard Westin, Lombard train station and other locations in the Village.

Trustee Peter Breen, Chairperson of ECDC, identified the need for revision of the codes after interaction with the drivers and the owner of a Lombard-based livery service, Flat Rate Cab.

“As a Village, we should always look for opportunities to expand consumer choice, particularly transit options for seniors, and to roll back unnecessary regulations,” said Breen. “It is my hope that we will be able to revise our taxi and livery codes to allow additional well-qualified providers to obtain licenses to provide increased transit services to our residents.”

Currently, taxi cabs are licensed by the Village and liveries are licensed only by the state. Right now, Village code distinguishes between the two based on whether or not the vehicle is equipped with a meter. Taxi cabs are metered and liveries are not. Only taxi cabs are able to accept Village of Lombard senior coupons or to wait for customers at locations within the Village. As part of this review, the Village will be seeking input from the affected businesses to develop or refine regulations to address these issues and to otherwise to meet the needs of taxi and livery businesses, while ensuring that the needs of Village residents are met.

“Staff will be reaching out to existing taxi and livery establishments in the community in order to discuss this issue comprehensively,” said William Heniff, Director of Community Development. “Our goal is to determine the full scope and nature of amendments and how any such changes would affect their respective business operations,” Heniff added.

Currently, there are 10 taxi cab companies that are licensed in the Village and one requesting a license on the August 23 Lombard Board of Trustees meeting agenda.

Upon completion of this outreach effort, the responses will be forwarded to the ECDC for discussion and ultimately to the Village Board for a final recommendation.