Essential Trip Card (ETC) for Taxi Trips 4.16.2020
Dear Taxi Industry members:
Muni is making necessary service reductions during the order to shelter-in-place. We know that for many people with disabilities and older adults walking farther to an alternate bus or paying for other transportation isn’t possible. To serve this important population, the SFMTA is announcing the Essential Trip Card program to help older adults and people with disabilities take and pay for essential trips in taxis during this crisis.
Eligible riders will be issued a debit card by SF Paratransit to pay for taxi trips in the customary way that paratransit riders now use taxis and pay the metered fare. Please see attached notice from the SF Paratransit office for more details regarding program rules.
To minimize physical contact, participating riders do not need to sign their receipt, and you do not need to give them a receipt unless they request it. You may write “ETC” in the signature line. We also ask that participating riders wear masks.
The attached cleaning requirements must be followed when servicing passengers in San Francisco, and a video demonstrating proper taxi cleaning procedures can be found on this video. To the extent possible, and when available, SFMTA will provide color schemes with cleaning kits and masks. Please be sure to abide by the attached Cleaning Procedures and Mask Procedures. There is a critical shortage of cleaning supplies, gloves and masks. Please take care to ensure that they are not wasted.
More about the program: An older adult (65 or older) or person with a disability can apply for the Essential Trip Card by calling 311 and mentioning the Essential Trip Card. For those who prefer a language other than English, language assistance is available. Staff will be available weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. While we encourage using the phone to minimize contact, as a last resort, qualifying customers may enroll in person at the SF Paratransit Broker’s Office (68 12th Street) if needed. The office remains open during regular weekday business hours (as of April 13, 2020). More information can be found at this Essential Trip Card website.
If you have any questions, please call Taxi Services at 415.701.4400 or email SFTaxi@sfmta.com.
Thank you in advance for helping to make this critical program a success by providing safe and outstanding customer service!
