The British Columbia government has announced a third round of funding to boost the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis to get people to work, school, and appointments — aiming to improve transportation options for people with mobility challenges.
The Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program (PTAP), which began in 2022, is offering approximately $7 million to help taxi operators cover the costs of purchasing, converting, or maintaining accessible vehicles.
“People who depend on accessible taxis have faced longer wait times or a lack of service,” the province said in a statement on Monday. The program, it added, is designed to address those challenges by reducing the financial burden on taxi companies and owner-operators.
The latest round of funding includes rebates for maintenance, vehicle conversions, and new vehicle purchases. For the first time, it also offers support to offset rising fuel and insurance costs. Applications for maintenance rebates are open until Feb. 14, 2025, while funding for vehicle purchases and conversions will remain available year-round.
This marks the third phase of the program, following nearly $10 million distributed in its first two years. Funding comes from a per-trip fee implemented in 2019 to support accessible transportation and offset ride-hailing regulatory costs.
Taxi companies in B.C. are required, under their operating licences, to dedicate part of their fleets to wheelchair-accessible vehicles—unlike ride-hailing services, which are not subject to the same requirement.
The province said it hopes the program will make it easier for people to get to work, school, or appointments while addressing gaps in service.