A ground-breaking spring for Metro Taxi: We will soon be replacing 110 gasoline taxis with 110 new clean-burning, purpose-built compressed natural gas (CNG) taxicabs. Metro Taxi will also become a Public Access Fueling Station for all types of CNG vehicles.

Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project: Navigating Our Transportation Energy Future

With the assistance of Clean Cities Coordinators, and a grant for alternative fuels from the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project (CTCCFF) funded by the Department of Energy, Metro Taxi will purchase and deploy 110 new CNG purpose-built taxi cabs. Seventy of the 110 cabs will be the newly built wheelchair accessible taxi called the MV-1.

The new taxis will be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) which has a much lower carbon emission rate than gasoline. Metro Taxi will become a public supplier of CNG at its West Haven facility.

Working with the U.S. Department of Energy, Metro Taxi seized the opportunity to launch this alternative fuel concept program and engage in two new innovative ventures: 1) respond to the need of the mobility impaired community by providing on-demand, wheelchair –accessible, taxi service; 2) operate these taxi cabs on natural gas, a U.S.-produced alternative fuel with a much lower carbon emission rate.

The MV-1 is both wheelchair-accessible and fueled by compressed natural gas.  It is a major part of our expanded fleet of new vehicles, providing on-demand transportation 24/7 for persons with disabilities in the same way that it accommodates the ambulatory population.

March 2011: Construction is underway at Metro's new CNG public fueling station.
Shown above are the natural gas storage vessels being lowered into place, directly in front of the dual compressor skid and gas dryer.

To celebrate this forward thinking initiative we’ve launched The Metro Access New Freedom Fund Taxi Voucher Program through a partnership with the City of New Haven's Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities and  the Greater New Haven Transit District (GNHTD). This voucher program offers qualified passengers with disabilities a 50% discount on all of our taxi services including Metro Access, our universal and equal access wheelchair accessible taxi service.

The Power of 110:

Just imagine that our initial plan, roughly half our combined vehicles, will displace over 500,000 gallons of gasoline per year! That equates to 9,700,000 pounds of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Replacing 110 gasoline taxicabs with new clean-burning CNG cabs will remove over 2500 tons of Green House Gasses annually from the air surrounding the Greater New Haven area of Connecticut.

According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development “natural gas is practically sulphur free and thus it produces virtually no sulphur dioxide (SO2); natural gas emits lower levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions than oil or coal emission.”  These efforts contribute to reducing significantly the harmful effects of acid rain, ozone layer and greenhouse gases.

Moreover, according to the Department of Energy, “due to the cleaner burning properties of natural gas, vehicle maintenance tends to be reduced (fewer oil changes needed)…” Also, natural gas is considerably cheaper than oil per gallon-equivalent. Read More »

Fuel With Us: We're a Public Access Provider

We're constructing a Fast-Fuel facility that will supply CNG fuel at a rate of 5 to 7 GGE's (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) per minute! That's as fast or faster than a gasoline pump!

Join the Green Team! Fuel your fleet of utility trucks, police cars, municipal vehicles, refuse haulers, school busse, or any public fleed vehicle within the area.

Save The Environment & Save Money

Although the cost for CNG fuel tends to follow the up-and-down gasoline price trends, CNG fuel is typically $1.00 less per GGE (gasoline gallon equivalents) than the prevailing price for 87 octane gasoline. The cost savings for highly utilized fleet vehicles is substantial making this a solid business plan. The cost savings for highly utilized fleet vehicles is substantial, making CNG an ideal substitute to gasoline.

Made in the USA

Natural gas will reduce our imports and our dependence on foreign oil. Imagine that!  We’re actually sitting on the worlds’ largest supply of natural gas right here in the United States. Why send our dollars overseas?  Why depend on unreliable sources of energy? Imagine the possibilities with cleaner air, energy independence, and increased revenues for our nation.

Click here to learn more about Metro Taxi’s CNG efforts and to learn about our involvement with Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project (CTCCFF).

A Car-Free Lifestyle: Cash-Less & Paper-Less Cards

We’ve introduced a suite of Metro Taxi charge and debit cards:

• The Metro Charge Card for our corporate clients and frequent travelers
• The University Ride Safe® Card for college and university students
• The Gift Card for the gift of peace mind.
• The Metro UniCard, representing universal and equal access; our "everyOne" card.
• The New Freedom Fund Card, for persons with disabilities; Read More »

These innovative concepts allow us to provide our customers top quality service with the extra benefit of providing cash-less cab rides with less paper consumption for everyone. Each Metro Charge Card, for instance, replaces more than 3,000 paper vouchers.

By combining this service with our electronic invoicing, we’re significantly reducing paper use.  All of our cards are also accessible and reusable online. Did you know that Metro Taxi is the only cab company in Connecticut using this system? Even our satellite dispatch technology is computerized to dramatically reduce paper.

Clean and Green: Recycling Oil

For almost a decade, Metro Taxi has been recycling its own used motor oil – approximately 3,000 gallons a year – to heat its 6,000-square-foot, seven-bay Service Department. We also recycle the company’s used oil filters and anti-freeze. In addition, all aged batteries from Metro Taxis are returned to the local auto parts store. The company’s scrap metal is also recycled. Our ongoing recycling efforts help to ensure that hazardous materials are discarded or reused safely.

Greening Our Routine: Saving Electricity

Metro Taxi is currently collaborating with Connecticut Light and Power to conserve electricity. Through CL&P's Small Business Energy Advantage Program, Metro Taxi has installed new high-efficiency fluorescent tubes and ballasts throughout its headquarters, including the Service Department.  These lights last longer and require less maintenance than the standard fluorescent tubes used in the past.

We also had occupancy sensors installed in our break rooms, restrooms, managers' offices and conference areas. These sensors detect the motion of room occupants, turning off lights in unoccupied areas and turning them back on when movement is detected.

With the new energy-saving program, Metro Taxi estimates it will conserve about 31,102 kWh per year while dramatically reducing overhead utility costs.

By keeping our costs down, we're able to make charitable contributions to several dozen community  organizations. It gives our employees and our families a sense of pride to know we're doing our part to preserve our environment.