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Taxi industry insiders attended a meeting in Albany on Wednesday in a last bid attempt to resolve issues surrounding the Bloomberg administration’s outer borough taxi bill. The 2-hour discussion was convened and chaired by Governor Andrew Cuomo himself.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he Friday he remains optimistic Governor Andrew Cuomo will sign a bill that would put $1 billion in the city's coffers and allow street hails of some livery cabs in residential areas.

In a stunning reversal, a group representing thousands of the city’s taxi drivers threw its support behind legislation that would allow livery cabs to pick up street hails despite its intention to attend a protest of the plan Monday.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission said the age-old problem of drivers rejecting rides to various destinations is getting worse. The city is seeking to seriously stiffen fines for cabbies who refuse outer borough destinations after passenger complaints about trip refusals skyrocketed 38 percent.