Whereas Bill 55, the BC Passenger Transportation Amendment Act which took effect September 16, 2019, imposes a 0.30 fee for each non-accessible vehicle trip, but otherwise does not determine how or when those funds will be deployed to support accessibility of passenger directed vehicles PDVs; And whereas the disability community has identified a number of PDV accessibility concerns, including but not limited to a lack of accessible vehicles or central dispatch for accessible vehicles, accessible booking or payment processes or compulsory driver training: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to work in consultation with the passenger directed vehicle industry, disability community, and local government representatives in order to design and implement an accessibility funding strategy for all PDV fleets that ensures that transportation options for persons with disabilities are equal to those provided to nondisabled persons in all PDV fleets, and specifically that all fleets have sufficient numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles, and accessible booking, dispatch and payment processes.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Accessibility is a top priority for government and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff are working on options to assist government in determining how to use the per trip fees to support accessibility. While other jurisdictions have taken two years or longer to fund accessibility programs with trip fee revenue, the ministry is currently exploring options to determine how to leverage these fees. The ministry is continuing to work with stakeholders on establishing a passenger directed vehicle driver training framework that includes education on accessibility. This accessibility funding strategy and driver training framework will improve the accessibility and service quality of the passenger directed vehicle industry.