Bloomberg in Brooklyn

Mayor Bloomberg chose the Susan Maintenance Taxi Garage on Fourth Avenue for his press conference early this afternoon. In front of shiny taxi cabs, one a hybrid SUV, Bloomberg detailed a plan to involve yellow taxi's in the city's Access-A-Ride program.

The pilot program being put forward will provide more options for the disabled who usually rely on the Access-A-Ride vans. It could also save the city $2.5 million dollars, said Bloomberg.

Under the new plan, which is only available to customers that require pick-up and drop-off at locations below 96th Street in Manhattan, those New Yorkers with disibilities will be able to hail cabs and not have to call 24-hours in advance to book a ride.

Currently, an Access-A-Ride trip costs an average of $49 compared to a taxi that costs $15. Customers pay $2.25 as they would if they were taking a subway or bus.

Bloomberg noted that approximately 75 percent of Access-A-Ride customers don't use the lift-equipped wheelchair feature that is standard on the Access-A-Ride vans and therefore don't need to take the far more costly van.

The taxi rides will be paid for with pre-paid cards issued by JP Morgan Chase.

After 90 days if the pilot is successful it will be extended or expanded to other areas, possibly Brooklyn.

MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder said black cabs, which are far more prevalent in Brooklyn, are part of the program.