The Hermiston City Council will consider establishing a new taxi program tonight designed to encourage better competition.
The council will also vote on a resolution to create a new natural gas utility in town.
The proposed Taxi Licensing Ordinance would allow the city to contract with multiple transportation providers for the city’s Senior and Disabled Transit Service. Hermiston first granted an exclusive franchise for taxi service in 1964 when Hermiston’s population was around 4,500. The system, according to city officials, “has not kept up with the region’s growth.”
The city has also received complaints of the service provided by Hermiston Transit, including a letter from a local business owner complaining of poor service from the company.
“Currently we have a company that is entitled and does not care if they answer the service requests,” wrote Stuart Rice, owner of Midway Bar & Grill.
The council will also consider a resolution that would pave the way for the city to create its own natural gas utility to provide service to the city’s southern industrial area.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. tonight at Hermiston City Hall.
