May 25, 2012 (CHICAGO)—City Colleges of Chicago today announced that its newly expanded and strengthened public chauffeur licensing program—revamped to meet Chicago’s immediate need for hundreds of new taxi drivers—will begin classes June 2, 2012 at Olive-Harvey College.
City Colleges also will launch a shuttle service between the Olive-Harvey campus and the 95th Street Chicago Transit Authority bus and train hub to provide all students quick and easy access to the school from public transportation. For more information on the program and shuttle schedule, please call (773) 291-6100 or visit the Olive-Harvey College web site.
Earlier this month, City Colleges of Chicago and the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection announced the program’s move from Harold Washington College to Olive-Harvey College. The move allows for the enactment of comprehensive taxi safety and training reforms announced by Mayor Emanuel in December 2011, which incorporated input from taxi companies, drivers, independent owner-operators and aldermen.
With driving simulation technology, a road course and expanded classroom space, the Olive-Harvey-based program will offer enhanced behind-the-wheel training, customer service skills, and will leverage the school’s educational resources in the areas of transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL) as part of the College to Careers initiative.
“Olive-Harvey’s unique assets will help ensure that Chicago’s taxi drivers hit the road safely with strong customer service skills, geographical knowledge and increased small business experience,” says Cheryl Hyman, chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago. “This is part of City Colleges’ mission: to offer relevant education and skills training that drives Chicago’s economic growth.”
One goal of the program is to increase the number of certified drivers by 50 percent. Currently, Harold Washington College produces up to 1,000 certified drivers each year. No current students will be affected by the move, and current program instructors will move from Harold Washington College to Olive-Harvey College. City Colleges plans to add instructors to meet growing student demand.
In March, Chancellor Hyman, Mayor Emanuel and Governor Pat Quinn announced the construction of a new transportation, distribution and logistics center at Olive-Harvey College as part of City Colleges’ College to Careers initiative. The facility will be the first comprehensive TDL education center in the state, preparing students for an estimated 110,000 jobs over the next 10 years in the growing ground, air and rail transport, multi-modal distribution and logistics fields.