FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2014

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is seeking feedback from the public as it evaluates and assesses specifications for a City of Chicago Taxicab Centralized Electronic Dispatch System option.

The function of the system would be to connect licensed City of Chicago taxicabs with prospective passengers through an Internet-enabled application, digital platform and/or telephone.

“We want to hear directly from the residents who use public vehicles throughout the City and the people who work in the taxicab industry,” said Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. “Receiving constructive feedback is another way to find solutions to integrate innovative industries in Chicago.”

BACP wants input, ideas and feedback from the public. Anyone — passengers, taxicab drivers, taxicab owners, technology companies, or any concerned resident of the City of Chicago — is urged to provide responses to the following question:

What capabilities and options would you like to see in a City of Chicago Centralized Taxicab Electronic Dispatch System?

The deadline to provide a response is Friday, Nov. 14, 2014.  Responses can be sent via e-mail to BACPPV@cityofchicago.org with “Centralized Dispatch Comments” in subject line or mailed to ATTN: Centralized Dispatch Comments, BACP Public Vehicle Operations, 2350 W. Ogden Ave., 1st Floor, Chicago, IL  60608.

BACP oversees the licensing of Chicago’s public chauffeurs and public vehicles including taxicabs, liveries, charter and site seeing buses, horse drawn carriages, ambulances, water taxis and tour boats. The department also oversees the purchasing of taxicab medallions, vehicle inspections and rates of fare. Learn more about BACP’s Public Vehicle Operations at www.cityofchicago.org/BACP.
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