D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is pushing for a cab ride surcharge to fund improvements to the city’s taxi industry just one week after officials approved a per-mile fare hike. Council members Tommy Wells and Mary Cheh said they plan on introducing legislation Tuesday on behalf of Gray that would establish a fund to pay for improvements like installing credit card readers in all cabs, requiring taxis to meet fuel efficient standards and creating a uniform look for all city cabs.
D.C. Taxicab Commission Chairman Ron Linton said at a news conference that the surcharge could be up to 50 cents per ride and would be added to the drop fee applied when a cab ride ends. He estimated the fund could generate $8 million to $12 million in revenue per year, however he did not have a cost estimate for how much installing the new equipment in cabs would cost.
| Gray’s plan |
| > Legislation will be introduced before the D.C. Council on Tuesday that would: install card readers for electronic payment in all cabs; create voucher program for low-income and elderly; require uniform colors and lights for all cabs; increase cab inspectors from 15 to 20; install panic button in cabs for direct police access; create new fuel efficiency requirements; and establish a driver education program. |
The proposal is likely to meet heavy resistance from not just consumers but cab drivers. One driver had to be escorted out of Tuesday’s news conference after shouting over Cheh’s remarks. Others said they were worried that five- or seven-year vehicle age limits Linton has previously suggested would make their way into the legislation.
The cost of replacing a vehicle every five years would be more expensive for solo drivers versus cab companies with a fleet, said Haimanot Bizuayeh, who owns his own cab.
“In my view, that is to force [independent drivers] out of business,” he said.
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Larry Frankel, a longtime driver, said he already had a GPS and credit card reader installed in his car and doesn’t want the city regulating what kind of equipment he had to use. The legislation would require devices that include touch screen computers that play ads. Riders can also access the Internet through the device.
Linton, who was appointed this year by Gray, said he had not met with the cab or hospitality industries regarding the proposal.
Jack Jacobson, head of DC Taxi Watch, said the company selling ad space on the readers should pay for the installation.
