Albany

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that allows the Capital District Transportation Authority to become the de facto regulator of the region's oft-maligned patchwork of taxis.

The bill will allow municipalities to opt-in to having CDTA become the entity that administers registration and licensure of cabs. The idea is not to take those decisions out of the hands of the region's municipalities. Rather, CDTA would take on administrative duties, which would include a unified complaint process.

A blanket draft ordinance will be provided to municipalities throughout the region — and could be modified by municipalities if they so choose — which could pave the way for cabs having the same fare structures and modern conveniences, such as credit card readers.

Bill sponsors specifically highlighted the need for cab quality and consistency for travelers between Albany International Airport and the Rensselaer Train Station and their destinations.

"A little more structure is in everybody's best interest," CDTA CEO Carm Basile said after the legislation passed in late June. "Right now there is no structure. The companies do a good job of managing themselves. But I think everyone is sort of off doing their own thing and trying to do the best job that they can. I think we'll add consistency, predictability; we'll provide a system where there is no system now."

The legislation was seen as the region's consolation prize after a bill that would have allowed ride-hailing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, to operate outside of New York City failed amid tense debate and last-minute legislative changes at the end of the session.

Also among the more than two dozen bills Cuomo signed Friday is legislation that increases penalties for assaulting utility workers, terminal cleaners and process servers from a misdemeanor to a class D felony.

Cuomo vetoed legislation that would have allowed regional off-track betting corporations to divert up to 75 percent of total pari-mutuel wagering pools for use for any corporate purpose.

Rick Karlin contributed. mhamilton@timesunion.com • 518-454-5449 • @matt_hamilton10