Overview
- The Department of Transportation has proposed a one-year pilot to let taxis feed commercial meters for up to three hours at about 13,000 metered spaces citywide.
- The DOT held a virtual public hearing Tuesday where drivers and advocates urged approval, cited health harms from limited restroom access, and pressed for quick action before the trial would end in July 2028.
- TLC data show a big imbalance in drivers—about 88,000 app-based drivers versus roughly 13,000 yellow taxis and just over 500 green cabs—leaving only 151 taxi-only relief spots south of 60th Street and 137 shared CBD spaces.
- Drivers warned that without clear rules they will still face tickets and lost earnings, and advocates demanded protections to stop autonomous or company fleets from using any new allowances meant for human drivers.
- Key details remain unresolved, including start date, meter cost, hours of operation, signage or reserved markings, and enforcement plans that the DOT must set during rulemaking before the pilot can begin.