Court: 'Taxi Of Tomorrow' Is Legal, Plan For Unified Fleet Can Go Forward

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An appeals court says a plan to remake New York's yellow cab fleet with Nissan minivans is legal.

The Appellate Division ruled Tuesday on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow.

It's overturned a ruling that said taxi owners shouldn't be required to buy a specific vehicle.

Judge David B. Saxe called the Taxi of Tomorrow a "legally appropriate response" to the Taxi and Limousine Commission's obligation to produce a 21st-century cab.

Nissan won a contract in May 2011 to supply minivans with sliding doors for the city's taxi fleet.

Fleet operators sued the city seeking to block the requirement. A judge halted the program last year.

The Greater New York Taxi Association did not immediately comment on Tuesday's appeals court ruling.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission also had no immediate comment.

You may also be interested in these stories: