The Public Utilities Commission could truly serve the interests of taxi riders during and after the Democratic National Convention by placing the application from Union Taxi Cooperative in the express lane to approval.

Union Taxi Cooperative - a couple of hundred area cab drivers seeking to start their own business - applied in June to provide cab service under a new law making it easier for competitors to enter the taxi market in Colorado's largest cities.

That law requires existing taxi companies to prove that expanding competition would be "detrimental to the public interest." That's a much friendlier standard for consumers and would-be competitors than the previous law, which required applicants to show that existing service was "substantially inadequate" before the PUC would allow new entrants in the market.

Even with the new law, the approval process takes months, and the convention is eight weeks away. So on Tuesday, Union filed an application to gain temporary permission to operate during the convention. It asked the PUC to declare an "urgent and immediate" need for extra cabs at that time.

The commission said no, based on an opinion from the attorney general's office that the new standard doesn't apply to cab companies seeking temporary authority to operate.

Attorney and former PUC Chairman Ray Gifford, who's representing the Union drivers, called the decision "pro-incumbent," as it clearly was. That said, Union drivers may be picking up fares by the convention. They asked the PUC to expedite their application for permanent authority. With Commissioner Matt Baker calling for a speedy resolution, Union may get its wish.

Union asked the commission to review its application directly, rather than involve an administrative law judge. That could shave weeks off the process.

Moreover, Union asked to shorten the comment period from 30 days to 10. The only likely interveners are incumbents Yellow Cab and Metro Taxi, who have been arguing against competition for years. It shouldn't take them long to update their legal briefs.

A lengthy process only hurts the taxi-riding public, including the thousands of visitors who will be here for the DNC. If the PUC wants to serve the public interest, it'll make sure Union's cabs are on the streets before the first delegate arrives.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/04/expedite-the-application-for-new-taxi-firm/