Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission

Report 99-12, November 1999




Report Summary

  • The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee directed the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to conduct a limited review of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission because of concerns regarding the commission's operations. This report examines the governance structure of the commission and how the commission performs its regulatory responsibilities. We also identified policy alternatives to the current governance structure.
  • The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission regulates the operation of certain "for-hire" vehicles in Hillsborough County and its municipalities. Vehicles regulated are taxicabs, limousines, vans, handicabs, basic life support ambulances, and wreckers used for government purposes.
  • Governance Issues The Public Transportation Commission is an independent special district. It is unique in that it is the only special district in Florida that regulates for-hire vehicles. Although the commission has been designated to be an independent special district, it is unclear whether the commission currently meets the statutory definition of this type of entity. Furthermore, the commission is not meeting special district accountability requirements, and its lack of contingency funds for extraordinary expenses could adversely affect its service delivery to the public.
  • Regulatory Issues This report focuses on two aspects of the regulation of for-hire vehicles-public safety regulation and market entry regulation. While public safety regulation establishes safety requirements for vehicles and vehicle operators, market entry regulation places limits on the number of for-hire vehicles that can operate in a jurisdiction. Jurisdictions may use a variety of approaches to provide these types of regulation.
  • Our review of relevant literature clearly indicates that local jurisdictions are in the best position to determine which regulatory approach would be most effective for them. Although OPPAGA supports the least restrictive form of regulation, there is no clear advantage of one regulatory scheme over another. Furthermore, we found no compelling evidence to indicate the need for major revisions to the regulatory approach used in Hillsborough County.


Related Reports
  1. Progress Report: Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission Has Implemented OPPAGA's Recommendations
    Report 01-43 September 2001
  2. Review of Privatization Potential of Select Special Districts
    Report 97-60 March 1998
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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