Four new taxis – including three accessible vehicles – could be hitting the streets of New Westminster.
Council has directed staff to prepare amendments to the city’s commercial vehicle bylaw to permit two additional taxi licences (both accessible vehicles) for Royal City Taxi and two more licences (one accessible and one conventional vehicle) for Queen City Taxi. The companies have received approval for the licences from the Passenger Transportation Branch.
“The city’s seniors advisory committee and the access ability committee were consulted on the request to increase the taxi licences,” stated a staff report. “Both committees supported the request.”
As required by the Community Charter, the city has given notice of its plan to implement the new business regulations. People wanting to comment on the matter will be able to do so at the March 30 council meeting.
New West invited to bid on 55+ B.C. Games
New Westminster is being invited to apply to host the 55+ B.C. Games.
The city has received a letter inviting it to submit a bid to host the 55+ B.C. Games, which will be held in August or September 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“Your community may bid on one or all of these 55+ B.C. Games, however, only one will be awarded,” said a letter from the B.C. Seniors Games Society to council. “If you think your community does not have all the required facilities to host the Games, you are welcome to combine with one or two neighbouring municipalities to submit a single bid.”
Council has referred the issue to the director of parks, culture and recreation to investigate the details and costs of hosting the games. Staff will report back to council.
ICBC gets a seat on city committee
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is being invited to take a seat on the city’s transit, bicycles and pedestrians advisory committee.
Council is changing the committee’s terms of reference to allow an ICBC representative to be part of the committee. The change was made to include ICBC because it “plays an integral part of the safety education of bicycle, pedestrian and vehicular traffic” within New Westminster.
“Staff acknowledges the importance of sharing insights and strategies with ICBC as not only a proactive and preventative approach to driver, pedestrian, transit ride and bicyclist safety within New Westminster, but also in order to determine why accidents have happened and how to prevent them in the future,” said a staff report.
