Drivers cite fuel, toll costs in fight to raise rates
Boston cab drivers rallied outside a hearing today to discuss potential increases to fees and fares.

Taxi driver Pierre Duchemin thought he would save money by sharing an apartment with two fellow cabdrivers. But after paying for gas, tolls, and other taxi fees, the cabdrivers could not make enough for rent. They were evicted.

Duchemin, who now rents a room in Dorchester, was part of a stream of taxi drivers who testified yesterday at a hearing that they need an increase in fares to make up for the pinch they feel from rising fuel and toll costs.

"Everything went up with us but the meter," Duchemin said before he testified.

The hearing at Roxbury Community College drew about 200 people and focused on a request by drivers to increase per-mile fares by 50 percent and hike the starting fare by 50 cents. The hearing also explored increasing the number of hybrid cars cabdrivers use and installing equipment that would allow passengers to pay with credit cards.

The proposed increase would make a cab ride in Boston one of the most expensive in the nation, but drivers and advocates say the increase is warranted.

Newly organized by the United Steelworkers union, the drivers have asked Boston for the first increase in their per-mile fare since 2002, when gas cost $1.49 per gallon. Gas hit an average of $4.08 in the Northeast this week, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

In addition to the request to increase the per-mile rate by 50 percent, drivers want the starting fare to grow from $2.25 to $2.75 and to push the cost per mile to $3.60. They also want to extend the number of miles they can run the meter before charging a flat rate from 12 miles to 20 miles.

"They're working 12, 14, 16 hours a day, six days a week, just to make ends meet," said Donna Blythe-Shaw, a representative for the United Steelworkers union, who outlined the proposal to police. "It's virtually impossible for them to make living arrangements and support their families."

The proposed increase would make the per-mile cost for a cab ride in Boston higher than in New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago.

But some local business leaders say the new rates would still be pretty consistent with those of other major cities.

"I don't think that Boston's [proposed] price is dramatically out of line with other major Northeastern metropolitan centers," Patrick Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau said in a telephone interview. "I think there is clearly an equity argument that these gas prices just continue to eat away at the margins that these cabdrivers are working on."

The rate increase must be approved by the Police Department, which regulates taxi fares. Captain Robert Ciccolo, the hearing officer who listened to testimony yesterday, said the hearing would continue today. Written testimony can be submitted for two weeks. After that, Ciccolo will submit a recommendation to the police commissioner.

Richard La Capra, a consultant hired by the Police Department to conduct an independent review of taxi fares, proposed an increase of 25 cents to $2.50 for the starting price and $2.80 for each additional mile. He also said cabdrivers could benefit from allowing customers to pay with credit cards.

"Business could increase substantially if opened to credit cards," La Capra said at the hearing.

George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, said his group agreed with the taxi drivers, but also wanted them to use more energy-efficient vehicles.

"We are here in support of the notion that with this fare increase there needs to be a transition to greener, more energy efficient vehicles," said Bachrach, adding that drivers of hybrid cars would save substantially in gas. "We are moving at a pitifully slow pace."

Cabdrivers agreed that using hybrid cars would save them gas money, but said they could not afford the switch to the smaller, more expensive cars.

"I'm a great proponent of the hybrid, but to mandate them would be crazy," said taxi driver Michael Carter, adding that it would hurt business because he would have less room for passengers and luggage.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/25/hearing_explores_taxi_fare_increase/

HYANNIS — As the air at Barnstable Municipal Airport cooled during yesterday's thunderstorms, the interior of Jack Campbell's taxi cab was warm and comfortable.

Like cabbies everywhere, Campbell, who drives for Executive Taxi, and the man in his back seat, Roberto Abreu, a driver with All Points Taxi, enjoy a good debate. But the two men concur that they are unlikely to benefit from a proposed fuel surcharge on fares.

Cab comparisons
Barnstable - $2.50 start plus 60 cents per two-fifths of a mile. Proposed change would add a surcharge of 50 cents for trips up to two miles and $1 for trips over two miles.