The competition is on to provide Pahrump with local taxi service.
Two companies have filed an application for a license from the Nevada Transportation Authority and both have been granted hearing dates.
Day Tripper dba Nye County Cab filed an application in March. Principals Larry Miller, Rich Canapary and Tina DiNapoli are three former cab drivers for Pahrump Valley Taxi, which had its license revoked earlier this year.
Before the group could be granted a preliminary hearing to present financial information, background information and other requirements of NRS 706.391, another transportation service from Las Vegas intervened.
Executive Coach and Carriage dba Integrity Taxi LLC has also submitted an application. Both companies have hearings to present business and market evaluations to the NTA commission.
Nye County Cab has a hearing Aug. 16 and Integrity will present the following day, Aug. 17.
According to Liz Babcock of NTA, both companies stand a chance of being approved, depending on the market here. She also said both could be denied.
“There’s nothing we can say now. Until the commission makes a recommendation and the three-commission authority makes a decision, no one has the upper hand.”
One competitor is stepping up the game plan.
Integrity has everything but the vehicles in place to open a taxi service here.
The company has set up an office at 681 West St., Suite A, and construction workers were renovating the office as late as Friday of last week.
Pahrump Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant Elaine Trent said the company has procured its Pahrump business license and also joined the chamber. There is a local phone number but the message states “the phone is not being monitored at this time.”
According to Executive’s director of sales and marketing, Chris Argier, Integrity Taxi submitted an application to the Nevada Transportation Authority in mid-June.
Babcock said the transportation authority will either approve or deny the applications at a general hearing Oct. 17.
Integrity has been providing shuttle service for medical patients from here to Las Vegas at the request of the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services. It also provides transportation for Senior Dimensions and LogistiCare patients needing non-emergency medical services in Las Vegas.
Integrity Taxi would begin initially with three taxis and a van, according to Chris Argier, marketing director for Integrity.
The company also has plans to provide a public shuttle service to Las Vegas price at $29.95 round trip, with three daily round trips.
Nye County Cab’s Miller said it’s a possibility Pahrump could end up with two cab companies, but he doesn’t see that as a viable option.
He said Nye County Cab could offer better services because drivers already know their passengers and live in Pahrump.
Canapary said, “The longer it takes to make a decision, the harder it’s going to be to get the service started out here again. It doesn’t matter which company gets approved.”