This is one of those items that’s newsworthy because we can’t believe it’s news: Last night the mayor’s office sent around a release announcing that wheelchair accessible taxicabs are coming to D.C. for the first time.

How it is even possible there have been no wheelchair taxis in our nation’s capital before now? The Post says wheelchair users currently have to call one of two suburban taxi companies that often aren’t available to pick them up. Amazing.

In any event, there will soon be 21 total wheelchair friendly taxis operating within the city, split between three cab companies, which will be purchased using $1 million from the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and close to $200,000 from the DC Taxicab Commission.

The cabs should be operating as early as January 2009. Customers looking for a wheelchair accessible cab will be able to call one number and the closest available cab will be dispatched.