Printer
TextTaxi Rate Increase Approved
Oct. 18, 2012
News Highlights
|
A permanent increase in taxicab fare rates from $2 per mile to $2.10 per mile was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at its Oct. 16 meeting. Authorization of the 4.7 percent increase followed a public hearing.
The new taxicab rate is effective Nov. 3. Permanent taxicab fare rates were last raised in October 2008.
After an Aug. 21 Consumer Protection Commission public hearing to consider proposed amendments to Section 84.1 of the Fairfax County Code pertaining to taxicab rates, the commission voted unanimously to recommend the board adopt the proposed amendments. Section 84.1 includes the Fairfax County Taxicab Industry Price Index, a formula that helps determine whether a rate change is justified and is used in making a rate recommendation.
In addition to the price index analysis, several other factors were considered in recommending the rate:
- Gas prices, the second highest expense item for taxicab drivers after lease fees, remain volatile and historically high.
- Demand to obtain and renew taxicab drivers’ licenses in Fairfax County remains at an all-time high.
- Indications that the taxicab industry may not have fully recovered from the economic downturn, since paid trips have not yet returned to pre-2008 levels.
- A $0.10 increase in the mileage rate makes Fairfax County’s taxicab rates comparable to taxicab rates in neighboring jurisdictions.
###
Website Survey 