Los Angeles taxi cabs will be getting a little greener following a decision by the Los Angeles City Council.
The Council unanimously agreed to move forward with a proposed ordinance that would at least 80 percent of the city's taxicabs to become more fuel effecient within the next five years.
The city's contracts with the nine franchises operating 2,300 taxicabs is set to expire on Dec. 31.
"Cities all over the nation and all around us locally have made the move toward green cabs, but here in Los Angeles, we have continued to lag behind," Councilman Bill Rosendahl told his colleagues. "Today, we have the opportunity to change the course and get L.A. back on track."
Councilman Tony Cardenas said San Francisco, Long Beach, New York and Seattle have all moved toward greening their taxi fleet.
Several members of the Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance opposed renewing the current contracts, saying they cannot afford to replace their existing taxicabs with "green" cabs.
But Los Angeles Department of Transportation officials said the cost could be offset by savings at the gas pump. They also vowed to help drivers secure small business loans.
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The council decided to go with the recommendation of transportation officials, who warned that the federal government could withhold a $2.5 million grant for wheelchair-accessible taxicabs if the franchises are given only a short-term extension.
