SFMTA - San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

05/20/2022 | Press release | Archived content

Ramp Taxi Requirements

To: Ramp Taxi Medallion Holders, Color Schemes, and Drivers Interested in Operating Ramp Taxi Medallions

Pursuant to Transportation Code §1110(d)(1), this memorandum establishes the requirements to enter into and maintain a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement for Taxi Drivers and Color Schemes, effective as of June 1, 2022. It also establishes the monthly minimum wheelchair pick-up requirement pursuant to Transportation Code §1110(a)(3) for Ramp Taxi Medallion Holders and Permit Holders with a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement.

Standards to Enter into a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement

  1. For individual Taxi Drivers who would like to enter into a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement:
    1. Over the six months preceding the request to enter into a Ramp Taxi Use Agreement, Taxi Driver applicant must have provided at least:
      • 60 Paratransit wheelchair trips; OR
      • 40 Paratransit wheelchair trips and 20 documented general public wheelchair trips; OR
      • 90 Paratransit trips (including ramp and non-ramp).
    2. Taxi Driver applicant shall have received no more than two substantiated customer service-related complaints during the six months preceding the request to enter into a Ramp Taxi Use Agreement.
    3. Taxi Driver applicant shall operate a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (through loan, lease, or other arrangement) that has been approved for use by the SFMTA.
    4. Taxi Driver applicant shall have a valid Ramp Taxi training certificate on file with the San Francisco Paratransit office.
    5. Taxi Driver applicant shall agree to operate Ramp Taxi at all times subject to the regulations of the Transportation Code, the individual Use Agreement (sample attached as Appendix A), and the requirements of the San Francisco Paratransit Program.
    6. Taxi Driver applicant must be recommended for approval after an interview conducted by the SFMTA's Paratransit Coordinating Council.
  1. For Color Schemes that would like to enter into a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement:
    1. Over the six months preceding the request to enter into a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement, Color Scheme applicants must have provided at least:
      • 72 total Paratransit wheelchair trips per Ramp Medallion; OR
      • 48 Paratransit trips and 24 documented general public wheelchair trips per Ramp Medallion; OR
      • 108 Paratransit trips per Taxi Medallion (including ramp and non-ramp).
    2. The Color Scheme shall ensure that each Ramp Taxi Driver who will drive the Ramp Taxi vehicle has a valid Ramp Taxi training certificate on file with the San Francisco Paratransit office.
    3. The Color Scheme shall ensure that each vehicle operating pursuant to the Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that has been approved for use by the SFMTA.
    4. The Color Scheme shall be in compliance with and agree to operate the Ramp Taxi Medallion, at all times, pursuant to the regulations of the Transportation Code, the color scheme Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement (sample attached as Appendix B), and the requirements of the San Francisco Paratransit Program.

Standards to Maintain a Ramp Taxi Medallion and Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement

Pursuant to Transportation Code § 1110(a)(3), every Ramp Taxi Medallion Holder and Permit Holder with a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement shall:

  1. Grant priority to requests for service from passengers who use a wheelchair.
  2. Ensure that any person who is allowed to drive the Ramp Taxi holds a valid Driver Permit and satisfies any Ramp Taxi Driver training requirement. SFMTA reserves the right to audit all Ramp Taxi Drivers and may require additional training if needed.
  3. Ensure that the Ramp Taxi meets the minimum wheelchair pick-up requirement per month, ten wheelchair trips per month, which can be a combination of Paratransit wheelchair trips and documented general public wheelchair trips. If the Ramp Taxi Medallion Holder or Permit Holder with a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement fails to meet this wheelchair pick-up requirement three consecutive months, or three times within a six-month period, or fails to comply with any condition of the Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement, the SFMTA may revoke the Ramp Taxi Medallion, in the case of a Ramp Taxi Medallion Holder, or terminate the Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement.
  1. Operate the Ramp Taxi Medallion at all times pursuant to the regulations of Article 1100 of the San Francisco Transportation Code, the provisions of the Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement and the requirements of the San Francisco Paratransit Program.

Excessive Number of Substantiated Complaints

The number of "substantiated complaints" that constitutes "excessive" in the context of a request to operate affiliated Ramp Taxi Medallions in non-accessible Taxi vehicles during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. pursuant to Transportation Code §1110(d)(2) is defined as two substantiated complaints, on average, per medallion, during any three- month period.

Event of Default

Pursuant to the Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement, upon an event of default, the SFMTA shall have the right to exercise its legal and equitable remedies, including, without limitation, the right to terminate the Agreement immediately.

Next Steps

If you are interested in entering into a Ramp Taxi Medallion Use Agreement, please contact Sarah Helman, SFMTA Mobility Services Permit Manager, at [email protected]or 415.646.2336.Kate Toran
Director of Taxis, Access & Mobility Services