The Council of Valleseco has officially launched an innovative technological tool incorporating artificial intelligence for the management of the taxi voucher. This pioneering system in the Canary Islands aims to modernize the administration of the municipal service, increase transparency in the use of public resources, and simplify both the work of taxi drivers and access for beneficiaries.
This advancement in the digital transformation of municipal services will allow for the completely electronic management of aid aimed at improving mobility for those with greater difficulties accessing transport. The mayor, José Luis Rodríguez, highlighted that the objective is to optimize the municipal budget and ensure that aid reaches those who truly need it, providing precise data on voucher usage.
The new system virtually eliminates paperwork. Users will only need to identify themselves with their DNI, while taxi drivers will validate the trip through a mobile application that reads the taximeter ticket and automatically deducts the corresponding subsidy. Information is stored on municipal servers, respecting data protection regulations.
Since its launch in 2018, the taxi voucher has become a key social program in Valleseco, with municipal investment growing from approximately 6,000 euros to nearly 30,000 euros annually. The new application will provide objective information on service usage, allowing for the identification of unused aid and more efficient resource redistribution.
The mayor explained that this analysis will enable the incorporation of new beneficiaries without initially increasing the budget and allow for the study of future subsidy enhancements for lower-income families. It will be possible to know each beneficiary's exact balance and usage, facilitating resource redistribution and potential ordinance modifications to increase aid up to 70%.
The tool will also streamline administrative management with the taxi sector, simplifying monthly invoicing and reducing bureaucratic burdens. The Town Hall reminds that this measure is crucial for ensuring mobility in a municipality with complex territorial dispersion.
Currently, 120 people use this service, aimed at the elderly, people with disabilities, and residents with special economic difficulties. The measure is particularly important in Valleseco, as 8 of its 12 neighborhoods lack direct access to regular public transport, making taxis the only available means for many essential journeys. The Town Hall subsidizes 50% of each trip's cost.
