Cuomo signs outer-borough livery cab bill

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a new law Wednesday to permit some livery cabs to pick up street hails in the outer boroughs and Manhattan north of 96th St.

Cuomo's ability to negotiate the taxi plan was seen as a success for both himself and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who originally proposed the plan in January and met fierce opposition from livery and yellow cab owners and drivers.

Under the plan, as many as 18,000 liveries will get licenses to pick up riders outside Manhattan, and 20 % of those cabs will be wheelchair-accessible. The city will give up to $15,000 as incentives for drivers to accommodate the wheelchairs, since it is more costly to do so.

The city will also make more than $1 billion by selling 2,000 yellow cab medallions. All of those will be wheelchair accessible.