D.C. has hit another roadblock on the way to modernizing the city's taxis.
The city's Contracts Appeals Board on Friday issued a stop-order for the installation of the new smart meters championed by Mayor Vince Gray, D.C. Taxicab Commissioner Ron Linton confirmed to The Washington Examiner.
Creative Mobile Technologies and Taxi Magic appealed the contract award for the smart meters, which include GPS technology and credit card machines. The companies argued the $35 million contract was unfairly given to VeriFone and that the city excluded other bidders from the final stage of selection.
Linton wasn't happy with the board's ruling.
"I feel that it's a poke in the eye of the people of D.C.," Linton said.
But he hadn't yet read the ruling and wanted to before commenting further.
A lawyer for CMT did not immediately return a call requesting comment. A spokesman for Gray said he had not yet seen the ruling.