As used herein, "shared ride taxi system" means a transportation system which employs taxicab-type vehicles or other motor vehicles which can carry no more than six passengers, and which attempts to arrange for use of such vehicles by more than one passenger per trip.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any locality which is a member of any transportation district may, with the concurrence of the transportation district commission that there is a need for a shared ride taxi system and the unavailability of adequate existing public transportation or public transportation proposed to be available within a reasonable period of time, construct, finance, purchase, operate, maintain or contract for a shared ride taxi system to be operated in such locality for the health, safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Such system may be financed from general revenues or funds received from the United States government, from the Commonwealth or any other source. Such system or the equipment and property needed for such system may also be constructed or purchased from proceeds of bonds which may be issued pursuant to the Public Finance Act (§ 15.2-2600 et seq.). Rates may be charged for the use of the system in such amount as the governing body of the locality deems reasonable, and different rates may be charged to different reasonable classifications of users.
The need for a shared ride taxi system and the unavailability of adequate existing or proposed public transportation may be based on the lack of such system or on the lack of such system at such user rates as will promote the health, safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the public. Contracts may be made with existing or proposed shared ride taxi systems, both publicly and privately owned, for the subsidy of all users or groups of users.
In the administration of this section, private carriers are preferred over public ownership or operation; therefore, before any such locality undertakes to establish and operate its own transportation system which uses taxis or other similar vehicles, it shall first make a bona fide attempt to enter into contracts with existing privately owned taxi businesses. If such locality cannot reach a reasonable agreement within an equitable period of time, then it may by ordinance proceed to establish and operate its own system.
In lieu of establishing a shared ride taxi system, such a locality may provide financial subsidies, low-interest or interest-free loans, or tax incentives to assist with the capital costs involved in the establishment of nonprofit vanpools meeting the definition of ridesharing arrangements set forth in § 46.2-1400.
Any such locality shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out any of the foregoing powers.
1976, c. 303, § 15.1-37.3:3; 1988, c. 109; 1997, c. 587; 2002, c. 337.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments
§ 15.2-900. Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs
§ 15.2-901.1. Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty
§ 15.2-902. Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds
§ 15.2-906. Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures
§ 15.2-910. Ordinance certifying boiler and pressure vessel operators; penalty
§ 15.2-911. Regulation of alarm company operators
§ 15.2-912. Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons; definition; exception
§ 15.2-912.1. Regulation of martial arts instruction
§ 15.2-912.2. Proceeds exempt from local taxation
§ 15.2-912.3. Regulation of dance halls by counties, cities, and towns
§ 15.2-913. Ordinances regulating certain vendors
§ 15.2-914. Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties
§ 15.2-915. Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies
§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun
§ 15.2-915.4. Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns
§ 15.2-915.5. Disposition of firearms acquired by localities
§ 15.2-917. Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges
§ 15.2-918. Locality may prohibit or regulate use of air cannons
§ 15.2-920. Regulation of outdoor lighting near certain facilities
§ 15.2-921. Ordinances requiring fencing of swimming pools
§ 15.2-922. Smoke alarms in certain buildings
§ 15.2-922.1. Regulating or prohibiting the making of fires
§ 15.2-922.2. Special fee for emergency services in certain counties
§ 15.2-923. Local water-saving ordinances
§ 15.2-924. Water supply emergency ordinances
§ 15.2-925.1. Local notifications
§ 15.2-926. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty
§ 15.2-926.1. Bounties for coyotes
§ 15.2-926.2. Adoption of ordinances prohibiting obscenity
§ 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft
§ 15.2-926.4. Regulation of smoking in outdoor amphitheater or concert venue; civil penalty
§ 15.2-927. Garbage and refuse disposal
§ 15.2-928. Local recycling and waste disposal; powers; penalties
§ 15.2-929. Solid waste management facility siting approval
§ 15.2-934. Displacement of private waste companies
§ 15.2-935. Authority to prohibit placement of leaves or grass clippings in landfills
§ 15.2-936. Garbage and refuse disposal; fee exemption
§ 15.2-937. Separation of solid waste
§ 15.2-938. Preference for purchase of recycled paper and paper products
§ 15.2-939. Ordinances requiring recycling reports
§ 15.2-940. Expenditures for promoting resources and advantages of locality
§ 15.2-941. Participation by local government in certain loan programs
§ 15.2-941.1. Creation of abandoned school revitalization zones
§ 15.2-942. Local government participation in certain events
§ 15.2-943. Operation and maintenance of living historical farm museums
§ 15.2-943.1. Creation of arts and cultural districts
§ 15.2-944. Authority to acquire and preserve places and things of historical interest
§ 15.2-944.1. Notification prior to sale or transfer of ownership of certain historic properties
§ 15.2-945. Acquisition and housing of relics, paintings, carvings, sculpture and other works of art
§ 15.2-946. Regulation of tour guides and tourist guides
§ 15.2-947. Systems of public transportation for certain counties or cities
§ 15.2-948. Locality may designate continuing source of revenue for mass transit
§ 15.2-949. Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools
§ 15.2-951. Acquisition, disposition and use of personal property by localities generally
§ 15.2-952. Political subdivisions may acquire property from United States
§ 15.2-954. Loans to volunteer firefighting and rescue organizations
§ 15.2-956. Participation in certain federal development programs
§ 15.2-957. Participation by localities in certain leasing programs
§ 15.2-958.1. Sale of certain property in certain cities
§ 15.2-958.2. Grants for homeownership; workforce housing
§ 15.2-958.2:01. Grants for certain corporations and pass-through entities
§ 15.2-958.3. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing programs
§ 15.2-958.3:1. Local green banks
§ 15.2-958.4. Waiver of certain fees for affordable housing
§ 15.2-958.5. Local funding for community revitalization
§ 15.2-958.6. Financing the repair of failed septic systems
§ 15.2-960. Planting of trees destroyed during construction
§ 15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process in certain localities
§ 15.2-961.2. Conservation of trees; notice of infill lot grading plan
§ 15.2-961.3. Replacement of trees during development process in localities
§ 15.2-962. Authority to require a unified geographic information system for a locality
§ 15.2-963. Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers and duties
§ 15.2-965. Human rights ordinances and commissions
§ 15.2-965.1. Participation of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses
§ 15.2-965.2. Enhancement of micro-business participation in local procurement
§ 15.2-966. Establishment and operation of educational television stations
§ 15.2-966.1. Establishment of primary health care facility for employees of locality
§ 15.2-967. Parking facilities
§ 15.2-967.1. Regulation of certain transportation services
§ 15.2-967.2. Electric vehicle charging stations
§ 15.2-968. Regulation of parking of vehicles within boundaries of state-supported institutions
§ 15.2-968.01. Parking in certain residential areas
§ 15.2-968.1. Use of photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals
§ 15.2-969. Ordinances prohibiting resale of tickets to certain public events; penalty
§ 15.2-970. Construction of dams, levees, seawalls, etc.; certain proceedings prohibited
§ 15.2-971. Armories and markets; assistance to National Guard
§ 15.2-972. Appropriations for the upkeep of certain cemeteries
§ 15.2-973. Ordinances imposing license taxes on owners of certain motor vehicles
§ 15.2-974. Permits for display of fireworks; use and exhibitions
§ 15.2-975. Use of cash proffers
§ 15.2-977. Green Roof Incentive Programs
§ 15.2-979. Notice of sale under deed of trust
§ 15.2-980. Civil penalties for violations of noise ordinances
§ 15.2-981. Authority to sell dogs trained for police work
§ 15.2-982. Designation of tourism activity zones
§ 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of property
§ 15.2-984. Adoption of flood plain ordinances
§ 15.2-985. Disposition of abandoned shopping carts; unauthorized possession; penalties