Taxi company gets Penticton council’s blessing for license application

PENTICTON – A new taxi company hopes to get a license to operate in Penticton.

Current Taxi Owner Dale Conway approached Penticton City Council Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 7, asking for the city’s endorsement as he applies to the province’s Passenger Transportation Board to initiate a new taxi service for Penticton.

Conway says he recently received a license to operate a two vehicle service serving Peachland, Kelowna and Lake City. That service begins operation on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Conway’s company exclusively uses environmentally friendly, battery operated Tesla vehicles.

“Our company's vehicles do not have internal combustion engines, nor are they hybrid vehicles,” he told council, adding the company’s cars are all high-end luxury models.

“One of the reasons we want to come to this district is our research has shown the taxi to population ratio is below provincial average, “ Conway says.

According to Conway’s data, the Penticton area has one taxi per 1,800 residents versus a provincial average of one taxi per 1,200 residents.

“This district is about 40 per cent below the provincial average, which is resulting in longer wait times, consumer frustration, and increased potential for impaired driving,” he says.

Conway says his company turned to Tesla for its vehicles because of their environmental performance, noting the vehicles emitted 13,000 pounds less CO2 per year compared to  the most environmentally friendly Toyota Prius on the road today.

He says his company approached council today to receive its endorsement for Current Taxi’s impending application for a new taxi service in Penticton.

Conway told council he plans to apply for a four vehicle permit, but in the near term will only place two vehicles on the road.

He told council even before the company begins service in Kelowna later this week, demand for the service exceeds the two vehicle service set up in that city.

Council agreed unanimously to approve Conway’s request for a letter of support.

Penticton taxi cab companies are already feeling the strain of an industry undergoing changes, recently voicing their opposition to Eckhardt Senior Services, a companion service for the elderly that offers transportation to seniors and handicapped.

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