Some additional taxis could soon be coming to the Comox Valley.
Joe Briere, the owner of Joe’s Taxi, is applying for five taxi licences from the Passenger Transportation Board. His application is for three conventional and two accessible vehicles offering metered and hourly rates.
Joe’s Taxi operates within the Comox Valley Regional District boundaries, with pick up as south as Fanny Bay, as north as Oyster River, and as west as Mount Washington. The two plates Briere currently leases belong to the Ambassador Transportation Company.
Briere said he sees a need for more taxis in the Valley, particularly in outlying areas.
“Service from the airport, service to Cumberland for special events or weekends, and all the outlying areas,” said Briere. “We do need it. The Valley is growing all the time.”
As part of the application process, Briere is reaching out to the Valley’s governments to request support from the community.
“From there I have to [submit] cost projections, a business plan, a condensed operating plan that is all on the transportation board’s website showing what I’m wanting to do and how many taxis I’m applying for,” he said.
Briere’s application is up for public review, with a deadline of July 2. Residents can enter submissions at bit.ly/2tvYETg