                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SHARED RIDE TAXI SYSTEMS, ETC.; NONPROFIT VANPOOLS (§ 15.2-949)

As used herein, &#8220;shared ride taxi system&#8221; means a transportation
system which employs taxicab-type vehicles or other motor vehicles which can
carry no more than six passengers, and which attempts to arrange for use of such
vehicles by more than one passenger per trip.
		Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any locality which
is a member of any transportation district may, with the concurrence of the
transportation district commission that there is a need for a shared ride taxi
system and the unavailability of adequate existing public transportation or
public transportation proposed to be available within a reasonable period of
time, construct, finance, purchase, operate, maintain or contract for a shared
ride taxi system to be operated in such locality for the health, safety,
welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Such system may be financed from
general revenues or funds received from the United States government, from the
Commonwealth or any other source. Such system or the equipment and property
needed for such system may also be constructed or purchased from proceeds of
bonds which may be issued pursuant to the Public Finance Act (§ 15.2-2600 et
seq.). Rates may be charged for the use of the system in such amount as the
governing body of the locality deems reasonable, and different rates may be
charged to different reasonable classifications of users.
		The need for a shared ride taxi system and the unavailability of adequate
existing or proposed public transportation may be based on the lack of such
system or on the lack of such system at such user rates as will promote the
health, safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Contracts may be
made with existing or proposed shared ride taxi systems, both publicly and
privately owned, for the subsidy of all users or groups of users.
		In the administration of this section, private carriers are preferred over
public ownership or operation; therefore, before any such locality undertakes to
establish and operate its own transportation system which uses taxis or other
similar vehicles, it shall first make a bona fide attempt to enter into
contracts with existing privately owned taxi businesses. If such locality cannot
reach a reasonable agreement within an equitable period of time, then it may by
ordinance proceed to establish and operate its own system.
		In lieu of establishing a shared ride taxi system, such a locality may provide
financial subsidies, low-interest or interest-free loans, or tax incentives to
assist with the capital costs involved in the establishment of nonprofit
vanpools meeting the definition of ridesharing arrangements set forth in §
46.2-1400.
		Any such locality shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out
any of the foregoing powers.

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