Hello to all! It’s hard to believe that another year is coming to a close. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones. 2025 was not ready to end without at least one more major issue popping up, so I think I’ll jump right into it.
By the time you’re reading this, you may have already heard that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in mid-November, issued their proposed 2026-2035 Capital Plan. Among the various proposals is one that will increase the Airport Access Fee. In their proposal, FHVs are facing a wildly disproportionate impact compared to taxis, who are receiving a significantly smaller increase.
The PANYNJ has proposed that effective March 15, 2026, the airport access fee for FHVs would instantly double from $2.50 for pick-ups and drop-offs ($5 round-trip), to $5 for each ($10 round-trip).
Meanwhile, the yellow cabs, who already only pay $1.75 for pick-ups and nothing for drop-offs, will be receiving a phased-in 75-cent increase. Beginning March 15, 2026, their fee would increase 25 cents to $2, and then would increase an additional 25 cents the first Sunday of each January in 2027 and 2028. Taxi drop-offs would continue to be exempt from any airport access fee.
Now that the PANYNJ has published their proposed budget, a public comment period has been opened and will remain open until December 15th, 2025. Additionally, the PANYNJ will be holding six public hearings from December 2nd through the 9th.
Of these six hearings, two of them will provide the opportunity for virtual testimony, while the other four will be in-person only. All six hearings will be streamed live. Below is a list of the six hearings and their dates and times:
- December 2: 9:00am – 2 Montgomery Street; Jersey City
- December 3: 10:00am – Building 14, JFK International Airport; Queens
- December 3: 7:00pm – 4 World Trade Center; Manhattan
- December 4: 7:00pm – EWR Redevelopment Community Outreach Office; Elizabeth
- December 8: 7:00pm – Hilton Hasbrouck Heights
- December 9: 7:00pm – College of Staten Island
Please be aware that only the hearings on December 2nd at 9:00am, and December 3rd at 7:00pm, will provide an opportunity for people to testify virtually. The other four hearings are only for in-person testimony. I strongly encourage everyone who can to voice their concerns with the PANYNJ’s proposed increases. The hearings will be streamed live on PANYNJ’s YouTube channel.
When I learned about this issue, I immediately reached out to speak with the PANYNJ and expressed mine and the black car industry’s concerns with the disproportionate treatment FHVs are receiving, but they fell on deaf ears. There is fierce opposition to this proposal throughout the FHV sectors and we have already been in communication with several industry groups. Together, we sent a letter to the Port Authority, outlining our concerns. We will also be providing testimony during the PANYNJ’s open comment period. I will provide you all with an update in the next issue of Black Car News.
I also want to touch on some updates regarding Waymo and the autonomous vehicle (AV) sector making its way into New York City. As you know, earlier this year Waymo was granted a permit to test their autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a driver behind the wheel.
We have continued meeting with an informal working group of ground transportation stakeholders to ensure that the FHV industry’s concerns about autonomous vehicles are heard, understood, and taken seriously. In November, I was on a panel at the SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico along with folks from the livery sector, the Independent Drivers Guild, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Uber. The Panel was titled “The Technological Disruptions to the Hispanic Community’s Transportation Ecosystem”.
While the SOMOS conference generally focuses on issues facing the Hispanic community, the threat from AVs transcends to all those in the ground transportation industry. We discussed the threat of job displacement that drivers face, the ripple effect this would have on transportation companies and other companies that are adjacent to this industry, and how regulators can ensure that they meet the concerns and needs of our industry as they work through building the regulatory framework needed for AVs to become a reality.
A major development that should also be on everyone’s radar is a bill that was recently re-introduced to the New York City Council that would make it so only yellow taxis could operate as AVs in New York City. It’s similar to legislation on the state level that seeks the same goal. I feel like a broken record at this point but I’ll say it again: Government should NOT be picking winners and losers in business. This bill has become a major discussion point in our working group as well, and I will provide updates to you all as the issue progresses.
Moving onto some lighter news, in November, The Black Car Fund held another resource fair at our Driver Education Center in Long Island City. It was another successful event where drivers were able to connect with us and our Drivers Benefits team to learn about the benefits we provide. They were also able to access a number of valuable health services and resources such as glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, prostate cancer screenings, vision exams, as well mental health support and information.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of our partners, who help to make these events so successful and valuable to our Covered Drivers. Thank you to Drivers Benefits, The Independent Drivers Guild, The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Dr. Ash Tewari Director of the Mount Sinai Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening Unit. We are working on our slate of resource fairs for 2026, so make sure you stay connected with us to learn when they will take place!
On a final note, how would you like to make a quick fifty bucks? Well, you have until the end of the year to do so! Through our Drivers Benefits program, you can claim a $50 Health Screening Benefit, just for using your benefits! That’s right, if you have already used our dental, vision, or other health screening benefits this year, you can submit a claim for a $50 Health Screening Benefit. If you haven’t, you just need to do so before the end of 2025 and you can claim the $50 benefit as well! Reach out to our Drivers Benefits team from 8:00am-8:00pm, Monday through Friday, at 833.814.8590, to learn more and get your $50!
Also, this is a final reminder that your yearly $2,000 dental benefit resets in 2026, so this is your last month to take advantage of the 2025 benefit amount. Our dental benefit is truly amazing. It covers 100% of all basic, restorative, and major care when you use an in-network dentist. That means no deductible, no co-pay and $0 out-of-pocket, up to $2,000 per year. Don’t let this money disappear! Log into your Drivers Benefits, or enroll if you haven’t already, and access this and more today!
I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to speaking again in the New Year! Until next time.
