2006 Code of Virginia § 15.2-949 - Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools

15.2-949. Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools.

As used herein, "shared ride taxi system" means a transportation systemwhich employs taxicab-type vehicles or other motor vehicles which can carryno more than six passengers, and which attempts to arrange for use of suchvehicles by more than one passenger per trip.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any localitywhich is a member of any transportation district may, with the concurrence ofthe transportation district commission that there is a need for a shared ridetaxi system and the unavailability of adequate existing public transportationor public transportation proposed to be available within a reasonable periodof time, construct, finance, purchase, operate, maintain or contract for ashared ride taxi system to be operated in such locality for the health,safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Such system may befinanced from general revenues or funds received from the United Statesgovernment, from the Commonwealth or any other source. Such system or theequipment and property needed for such system may also be constructed orpurchased from proceeds of bonds which may be issued pursuant to the PublicFinance Act ( 15.2-2600 et seq.). Rates may be charged for the use of thesystem in such amount as the governing body of the locality deems reasonable,and different rates may be charged to different reasonable classifications ofusers.

The need for a shared ride taxi system and the unavailability of adequateexisting or proposed public transportation may be based on the lack of suchsystem or on the lack of such system at such user rates as will promote thehealth, safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Contracts maybe made with existing or proposed shared ride taxi systems, both publicly andprivately owned, for the subsidy of all users or groups of users.

In the administration of this section, private carriers are preferred overpublic ownership or operation; therefore, before any such locality undertakesto establish and operate its own transportation system which uses taxis orother similar vehicles, it shall first make a bona fide attempt to enter intocontracts with existing privately owned taxi businesses. If such localitycannot reach a reasonable agreement within an equitable period of time, thenit may by ordinance proceed to establish and operate its own system.

In lieu of establishing a shared ride taxi system, such a locality mayprovide financial subsidies, low-interest or interest-free loans, or taxincentives to assist with the capital costs involved in the establishment ofnonprofit vanpools meeting the definition of ridesharing arrangements setforth in 46.2-1400.

Any such locality shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry outany of the foregoing powers.

(1976, c. 303, 15.1-37.3:3; 1988, c. 109; 1997, c. 587; 2002, c. 337.)