State extends BWI taxi contract for one year
Jet-setters touching down in Maryland will continue taking taxis under familiar flag of BWI Taxi Management Inc., after the state's Board of Public Works decided this afternoon to extend their contract by one year.
The move tamps down a controversy kicked up by local cabbies who did not want the state contract to go to a Virginia-based firm. That company, called Dulles Airport Taxi, Inc., would have paid the state more money for the airport rights. But cab drivers feared new management would cut jobs and pay. They drove their cabs around state circle earlier this week to protest.
Comptroller Peter Franchot, one of the three state officials on the BPW, said he wants the Maryland's Department of Transportation to have an additional year to review the contract and find a way to balance state revenues with the needs of the taxi drivers.
The move tamps down a controversy kicked up by local cabbies who did not want the state contract to go to a Virginia-based firm. That company, called Dulles Airport Taxi, Inc., would have paid the state more money for the airport rights. But cab drivers feared new management would cut jobs and pay. They drove their cabs around state circle earlier this week to protest.
Comptroller Peter Franchot, one of the three state officials on the BPW, said he wants the Maryland's Department of Transportation to have an additional year to review the contract and find a way to balance state revenues with the needs of the taxi drivers.
During the meeting, he noted that the winning company "did not do anything wrong" but said that since "a lot of different point of views have been raised" it would be prudent to defer the new contract.
Treasurer Nancy Kopp agreed. As did Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, who presided over the Board because Gov. Martin O'Malley is at a Democratic Governors Association meeting in Chicago.
Treasurer Nancy Kopp agreed. As did Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, who presided over the Board because Gov. Martin O'Malley is at a Democratic Governors Association meeting in Chicago.
Comments
What kind of under the table dealings/campaign contributions did it take for the state to refuse the additional $1 million dollars Dulles Taxi was offering?
Taxi drivers would still have jobs. It's just that some of the jobs would go to taxi drivers not currently working for BWI.
It's not the state's fault these drivers would be out of work. The BWI Taxi fat cats just didn't want to give up more of their cut and up their bid. Go protest your corporate office. BWI Taxi management must have known they would get either the contract or an extension despite the money difference. Seems a deeper investigation is warranted because this doesn't seem to be on the up and up.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 15, 2011 4:42 PM