Fare Play? Regulating Worcester’s Livery Vehicles and Taxis

This report discusses the regulations of Worcester’s livery vehicles and taxis. Specifically, it addresses the issue of whether the City should be engaged in setting limits to the number of liveries by placing it in the broader context of the origins and history of the taxi medallion system elsewhere in the U.S., along with its original institution in Worcester in 1980. After summarizing the regulations that distinguish liveries from taxis, the report cites the findings of other researchers regarding the effects of restricting the issuance of taxi medallions. Such findings carry implications not only with respect to restricting the number of liveries, but also regarding the desirability of continuing or modifying the City’s policy regarding taxi medallions.