Coalition Advocating for Smart Transportation

The Coalition Advocating for Smart Transportation wanted New York City to be the first major city to license hybrid cars as standard taxis.  CAST asked M+R to help expedite a push for the necessary policy changes and promote hybrid taxis in other cities.  M+R helped CAST partner with leading environmental and public health organizations to promote an opinion poll that showed strong public support for hybrid taxis.  We then lobbied City Council members and prepared testimony for CAST spokespersons speaking before the Council.  Critically, we helped CAST work with the Taxi and Limousine Commission to craft regulations to encourage adoption of hybrid taxis into the New York City fleet, raising awareness of the fuel savings and special tax breaks for hybrid taxi buyers.

The New York City Council voted 50:0 to pass the Clean Air Taxis Act!  The historic launch of NYC’s first hybrid cabs received extensive local and national media coverage and drew TV cameras from as far away as Japan.  Since then, CAST has been able to leverage this success to promote the use of hybrid taxis in Chicago, San Francisco and other cities around the country.

For more information, please contact Michael O’Loughlin at moloughlin@mrss.com or (917) 438-4609.