The District will draw up a less perplexing, more user-friendly cab fare map even as the government debates whether to convert from zone fares to meters, City Administrator Dan Tangherlini said Thursday.
The existing map, which by law must be posted in all taxis, features 23 different zones, delineated only by the streets that border the zones. But it’s difficult at best to distinguish the boundaries or the fare amounts.
“In the zone map, as anyone who rides a cab knows, north is for some reason facing west,” Tangherlini said during the unveiling of Mayor Adrian Fenty’s 2007 action plan. “The idea is to actually have north point up and have a few more streets actually described in a map so you actually know which zone you’re in and going to. The idea is to redesign the map and work with the taxicab commission to have a more customer-friendly map.”
Under the current design, for example, traveling from Zone 3E to 4A — Minnesota Avenue NE to Western Avenue NW — first requires a passenger to plot their location and destination on the nebulous map, then scan a chart to find that the corresponding zone charge is a “6.” Another table translates zone charge six to a $15.50 fare, not including extra fees for rush hour, additional passengers, luggage or waiting time.
Fenty’s action plan calls for a new map to be ready within 30 days.
A conversion to meters, Fenty said, is still under consideration. Former Mayor Anthony Williams backed the change and tested meters through a pilot study, but never moved the initiative forward.
