Nightlife Taxi Stand Launches in Downtown New Haven
Park New Haven Promotes Taking a Cab to Prevent Drunk Driving this Holiday Season
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — (November 22, 2013) — Park New Haven, which maintains and manages over 8,000 public parking spots across 7 garages and numerous surface facilities in Downtown New Haven, together with Metro Taxi and Town Green Special Services District is pleased to announce the new Nightlife Taxi Stand at the Crown Street Garage in Downtown New Haven.
The new Taxi Stand, which officially opens tonight, is in a centralized location at the Crown Street Garage (on Crown &
College Streets) in the middle of New Haven’s entertainment district, allowing bar goers easy access to a safe ride home at the end of their night out. As a part of the new Taxi Stand program, Park New Haven is also waiving the fee charged for patrons that choose to take a cab home and leave their cars in the Crown or Temple Street Garages overnight. The overnight fee is waived when the patron picks their car up by 9 AM the next day.
The Taxi Stand program continues a long track record of improvements in the way people interact with parking in the City of New Haven over the last few years, and further improves on nightlife safety downtown.
“The placement of taxi stand in the city center, at the heart of New Haven’s dining scene, is yet another added convenience for the thousands of diners and visitors to downtown New Haven. More importantly, the service will discourage drunk driving and help keep our streets safe,” said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
For the launch of the new Taxi Stand, Park New Haven is also promoting the use of the Taxi Stand at downtown bars and nightclubs though in-venue posters and signage, and unique bar coasters. “The safety of our customers has always been our first priority, and offering this new Taxi service together with our partners at Metro Taxi and Town Green is our way to help further improve the safety of our Downtown Nightlife crowd”, said Acting Executive Director for Park New Haven, David B. Panagore.
“We have long looked to increase the availability of safe rides home for people who may be over the legal limit or who simply do not want to take the risk. The Nightlife Taxi Stand is a great option allowing weekend patrons a safe, reliable and easy ride home. This project is another example of meaningful collaboration between the business community, Park New Haven, and City of New Haven to provide a great service which enhances the Downtown New Haven experience,” said Town Green Special Services District Executive Director, Win Davis.
Metro Taxi of West Haven, CT was named the exclusive provider of cab service to the new stand at Crown Street Garage. Metro Taxi’s full-service transportation includes traditional, urban taxicab transport, medical livery, student, business and recreational transport. Metro Taxi Accessible Service has one of the largest percentage of wheelchair-accessible taxicabs in the nation and brought wheelchair accessible service to Connecticut.
“We are delighted to be a part of this community-focused partnership,” said Bill Scalzi, president and co-owner of Metro Taxi. “This public safety endeavor dovetails wonderfully with Metro Taxi’s long-standing service commitment to Greater New Haven, as well as our URide Safe® Card, the Metro Taxi debit card created to get college students home safely 24/7 everyday of the year,” added Scalzi.
The Taxi Stand will be open from 10 PM to 3 AM Thursday through Saturday nights year-round.
For more information on Park New Haven please visit www.parknewhaven.com