ESQUIMALT – New Democrat MLA Mitzi Dean says people who use wheelchairs in Esquimalt will soon have more accessible taxi services through the government’s Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program (PTAP).

“People in Esquimalt who use wheelchairs or have mobility needs should know they have access to safe, reliable transport where and when they need it,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “This support will help Esquimalt Taxi make their fleet more accessible so more customers can have access to transport locally.”

Esquimalt Taxi is receiving $16,059 in order to improve wheelchair accessibility within their fleet.

Through the 2023/2024 intake of the PTAP, the province has provided $6,989,583 to 59 recipients to make accessible taxis more available by offsetting the costs that taxi companies and owner-operators face in providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

The funding either covers the cost of purchasing a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or, purchasing a vehicle and have it converted. The fund also provides reimbursement of eligible maintenance expenses as well as a flat-price insurance rebate and a flat-price fuel rebate per vehicle.

Learn More:

For a full list of 2023/2024 PTAP recipients: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/funding-grants/passenger-transportation-accessibility-program