Mayor Adrian Fenty announced Tuesday that he would slash the base fare for taxicab passengers under the new meter system, bowing to pressure from thousands of riders who complained the price as first suggested was too high.
But lower fares have only emboldened the opposition of some D.C. cab drivers, who are threatening to strike starting next month.
“We’re going to fight back,” said William J. Wright, president of the Taxicab Industry Group. “We’re not losing our jobs and everything we’ve worked for to play dead for the mayor. We’re working for nothing.”
Brushing aside the threats, Fenty said that all 6,000 D.C. cabs will flip from zones to time-and-distance meters April 6. The mayor opted to ditch the oft-confounding zones last October in the face of a congressional mandate.
The base fare under the new system, known as the flag-drop fee, will be $3 per ride — $1 less than originally proposed. The rush-hour and additional passenger surcharges were axed as demanded by 2,100 people who commented on the plan.
“We tried to be fair to both drivers and the riding public,” said D.C. Taxicab Commission Chairman Leon Swain. “I think we did a good job. We’ll know in about six months whether we did a really, really good job.”
Most of the remaining regulations were not changed. After the flag drop, each additional one-sixth of a mile will cost 25 cents. The maximum fare — not including surcharges — will be $18.90 for rides that start and end in the District.
The meters should cost between $299 and $325, Swain said, an expense borne by the drivers.
Wright, who led a one-day walkout on Halloween, said the work stoppages will begin anew Feb. 4. Drivers will be asked to stay home one day a week untilthe baseball season starts, and then the strikes will expand to Nationals’ games and convention center events.
Ytbarek Syume, owner of three D.C. cab companies, said drivers will find meters a fair and workable solution once they better understand the system.
“They will benefit,” Syume said. “They just don’t know.”
New fares
» $3 base fare
» 25 cents per one-sixth of a mile ($1.50 per mile)
» $18.90 max fare within D.C.
» No rush-hour or additional passenger surcharge
» $15 per hour waiting fee
