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Cab
owners say fare hikes needed
By Daniel Valentine, Staff Writer, Capital Gazette
Annapolis,
MD -- After
two years of rising expenses and tight margins, Annapolis taxi
cab companies are waiting for the city to pick them up.
Complaining that their businesses have been overlooked in the
city, cab owners are pushing for higher rates, a greater say
in transit planning and more consideration from city transportation
officials.
"It's respect.
It's what it all comes down to," said Robert Eades, owner of
Neet N Kleen Taxi. Mr. Eades is one of several cab company owners
waiting for the city to raise fare rates to help the industry.
"It's kind of tight for everybody," said Elaine Wagner, general
manager for Annapolis Yellow Cab. City officials have proposed
increasing rates by 11 to 20 percent percent. Under the new
rules, drop-off fees would rise from $1.80 to $2, the per-mile
meter charge would increase 20 cents from $1.40 a mile, and
the hourly rate would rise to $24 an hour, up $4 from the old
rate. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the increases
this month. Danielle Matland, city director of transportation,
said the increase is crucially needed. "The taxi industry is
important to the vitality of our community," she wrote in a
memo to elected officials. "If taxi revenues cannot keep up
with expenses, it will not be possible to encourage an enhanced
fleet." With about 200 cabs licensed by the city, the taxi industry
is one of the main means of transport for residents without
cars.
"These
are demand riders, who don't have a choice," said Heather McColl
spokesman for the Annapolis Regional Transportation Management
Association. "They primarily need to get to a location not served
by the bus."
The increased fare rates were calculated based on the rate of
inflation and similar fare increases pending in nearby cities,
Ms. Matland said. The rates follow Anne Arundel County, which
raised rates by about 15 percent in August. The city usually
only examines rates every five years, but Ms. Matland said quicker
action was needed to respond to higher expenses. In the past
year, gas prices have skyrocketed. In August, the state raised
vehicle registration fees, further cutting into cab profits.
But cab
owners say the rates are one part of the problem. Several said
they feel Annapolis has failed to look at taxis as they proceed
with plans to improve the city transportation network. "Their
main concern is their buses," said Ruth Wade, president of the
the Reliable Cab Co.. With about 60 independent cabs in its
fleet, Reliable is the largest taxi company in Annapolis. One
of the chief complaints from cab companies is the lack of space
for waiting taxis. The city has two spots on Main Street for
taxis to stop. Mr. Eades said the city should designate more
areas for taxis, including space in front of hotels and busier
intersections. "They need to look out for the industry," he
said. Ms. Matland said the city is studying possible locations
for additional taxi stands as they review transportation needs
for the future. But because curb space and parking is at a premium
in the city, finding space for taxis is not easy.
"Parking is a scarce resource in the city," she said. "We can't
magically increase it." Mr. Eades said he hopes to recruit area
taxi drivers to form a collective association for the industry.
But that's been tried before. Because so many cab companies
are operating in the city independently, efforts to join the
industry together have never really taken off, Ms. Wagner said.
"The competition is so intense," she said. "A lot of people
want things, and want them right away. I'm more of a realist.
It takes time."
dvalentine@capitalgazette.com
Published
10/03/04, Copyright © 2004 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
---
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Heather McColl, Executive Director, ARTMA
TelephoneL 410-897-9340
Email: hmccoll@artma.org
Date: October 3, 2004
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