PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      7a 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting      May 26, 2015 
DATE:    May 18, 2015 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Mark Reis, Managing Director Aviation Division 
SUBJECT:  Airport Taxi Service and Transportation Network Companies Briefing 
SYNOPSIS 
Given the upcoming expiration of the contract with Puget Sound Dispatch on October 31,
2015, Port staff has been planning for the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a
successor contract  for taxi services at the Airport.  However,  the introduction of
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) into the airport ground transportation market
could potentially influence the demand for on-demand services as the TNCs grow in
familiarity and availability nationally. It is difficult to project the market penetration for
these services at Sea-Tac Airport and what impact it might have on incumbent or future
ground transportation operators. 
In order for staff to assess the impact of TNCs, and to make those impacts known to all
firms interested in bidding on the on-demand taxi contract, Port staff is recommending a
one-year delay in the release of the RFP for on-demand taxi service and a corresponding
one-year extension to the contract with Puget Sound Dispatch. Staff will finalize an
operating agreement for TNC operations, allowing them to pick up passengers at the
Airport. Staff plans to return to the Commission in 30-45 days with a specific request for
approval of a one-year extension to the contract between the Port and Puget Sound
Dispatch. 
BACKGROUND 
In 2009, following a 23-year exclusive contract with Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi
Association (STITA), the Port of Seattle competitively bid a contract for on-demand taxi
service. Puget Sound Dispatch, dba Yellow Cab, was the successful proposer and is now
operating under a five-year period that  began on  November 1, 2010,  and ends 
October 31, 2015. Puget Sound Dispatch has performed under the terms of the contract,
providing consistent, convenient transportation service for customers, a 100% green fleet
of 231 vehicles, and a $3.67 million minimum annual guarantee or 13% of gross revenues
- whichever is greater. Required service standards include customer wait times of fewer
than five minutes, vehicle maintenance and appearance standards, as well as on-site
supervision.  On-demand taxi activity was up nearly 10% in 2014 with more than
815,000 total trips from the Airport and has shown additional improvement in the first
quarter of 2015. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
May 18, 2015 
Page 2 of 3 

Amidst a dynamic market for ground transportation services, in which growth in both ondemand
and pre-arranged services is occurring, three TNCs (Uber, Lyft and Sidecar)
have requested access to Airport property for the pick-up of passengers. Transportation
Network Companies, which are currently authorized by King County and the City of
Seattle under Chapter 46.72 of the Revised Code of Washington, provide transportation
of passengers for compensation by connecting drivers of personal vehicles to
passengers requesting transportation  exclusively through use of mobile device
application technology. 
In addition, For Hire providers have expressed an interest in both (1) operating at the
Airport in the near future and (2) being eligible to compete when the Port issues a
Request for Proposals for on-demand taxi services. 
During the past several months, Port staff has held meetings with representatives of
these firms to discuss the various components of agreements to operate at the Airport. 
ANTICIPATED FUTURE ACTIVITIES 
June/July 2015     Commencement of TNC pick-up operations at the Airport 
July 2015         Request for Commission Authorization for one-year extension to
contract with Puget Sound Dispatch 
September 2015    Regular publication of ground transportation activity data for all
modes of ground transportation services 
Q3 2015  Q1 2016  Development of final RFP for taxicabs, including resolution of
policy issues (e.g., eligibility for consideration, criteria, etc.) 
Q1 2016         Commission briefing on TNC airport activity to date 
March 2016       Outreach to interested taxi proposers 
April 2016        Issuance of taxi RFP for operations beginning 11/1/2016 
April 2016        Outreach pre-conference to interested proposers 
July 1, 2016       Award of taxi contract 

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
None

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
May 18, 2015 
Page 3 of 3 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
November 30, 2009  Briefing on status of RFP for On-Demand Taxi Service at
the Airport. 
December 15, 2009  Authorization to award Puget Sound Dispatch, Inc, dba
Yellow Cab Taxicab Association, the contract for On-Demand Taxi Services at
the Airport.