Transit Committee to consider repeal on cap of taxi cab permits

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Board Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee will meet Tuesday, April 9th to consider a resolution that would support the repeal of the city of Milwaukee’s cap on new public passenger vehicle permits.

According to the resolution, there are currently fewer taxicabs in Milwaukee than there were 20 years ago after the city capped the number of public passenger vehicle permits.

The resolution added that the city of Milwaukee has been called “one of the worst offenders among cities that limit how taxicabs operate within its borders rather than allowing the market to set the number of operators.”

A pending lawsuit charges that Milwaukee’s limit on taxicabs allowed in the city is arbitrary, anti-competitive and unconstitutional.

The resolution calls for approval of a Common Council resolution seeking to repeal the City’s cap.

Supervisor John Weishan, who is vice-chair of the Transit Committee, said the County needed to makes its voice heard on the issue.

“The County has spent millions of dollars on para-transit taxicab rides, and a lack of competition in the bidding process denies options to service,” Weishan said. “The City needs to remove the cap not only to provide competition for service, but to potentially save taxpayers money.”

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