Taxi Cab Surcharge Goes Into Effect
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: August 20, 2008
Taking a taxi here in
Today the city council approved a rate increase for Yellow Cab to relieve losses from high gas prices.
Drivers for the Yellow Cab company say they fill up their tanks at least once a day. And with gas prices the way they have been, a little extra income will make a big difference.
The way cabs work now -- the rates are city regulated. And because of that set rate, keeping up with ever-increasing gas prices is nearly impossible. So to offset those costs, there will now be a 50 cent surcharge.
These fees also apply to limousine services.
Vice President Steve Sexton says the increased fare is just an attempt to let his employees make ends meet.
Sexton: “Our drivers buy their own gas, and work 12 to 15 hours a day. They work hard to provide people with a ride wherever they might need to go, and they need as much as anyone else does. They're just trying to make a living.”
Sexton says they looked at several other cities like Dallas and Austin when trying to determine a fair surchage, and 50 cents is about an average amount.
