Council Approves Taxicab Fare Increases

Alexandria City Council approved higher taxi rates at its legislative meeting Tuesday night at City Hall. 

The changes are the result of a biennial review of the city’s taxicab industry.

Council approved the new “drop” charge at $3, up from $2.75. The mileage charge increases to $2.16 per mile from $2.04 per mile. An increased waiting charge of $25 an hour kicks in three minutes after a scheduled pick up time.

A 75 cents per trip fuel surcharge will be dropped once the new fares take effect March 1.

The city’s cab fares have not been adjusted since 2008. The proposed rate increase is expected to increase driver income by as much as 4 percent. There are roughly 748 cabs in the city operating through seven different companies.   

Other changes include an increase in the animal fee from $1 to $2. A new luggage-handling fee was set at 50 cents per bag. One dollar will be charged if the driver carries a bag from the car to the front door of a residence. The luggage-handling fee maxes out at $7. 

The city’s taxi companies are also working toward requiring credit card payment capability in all cabs by a target date of Sept. 1.

“At some point we need to make certain all our cabs and companies move forward with new technology in terms of making payments with credit cards,” Mayor Bill Euille said. “After more than a year and a half of discussion with the taxicab industry and working with them and giving them extensions, they finally came to the conclusion that enough is enough, let’s put it to bed and make this happen. And I honestly believe that is something we need to do here in Alexandria.”

The credit card capability requirement will go before the city’s Traffic and Parking Board in February and is expected to be brought to council in March.