New York City taxi fare, surcharge hike expected, but driver pay to go up too
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City is proposing to hike yellow taxi rates and surcharges for the first time in a decade, including raising the base fare from $2.50 to $3.
Average passenger fares would increase nearly 23%, but driver pay would also go 33% by increasing meter rates. Medallion revenue would also go up nearly 305%.
"For drivers, it's going to add up to something significant because of the number of trips they do," Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said. "With the raise and debt forgiveness on medallion loans we've been fighting for, I think you'll see more yellow cabs on the streets."
Uber and Lyft would see increases in their driver pay rates
Several existing surcharges would also go up, including:
--A $2.50 rush hour fee, up from a $1
--The nighttime surcharge would be increased from $0.50 to $1.00
--A $65 flat fare for trips between Manhattan and Kennedy Airport, up from $52
--The rush hour taxi and flat fare surcharge for Kennedy Airport trips would be increased from $4.50 to $5.00.
--A $20 surcharge for all trips to Newark Airport, up from $17.50
--A new $5 surcharge for trips to and from LaGuardia Airport
--The Taxicab Improvement Surcharge and Street Hail Livery Improvement Surcharge would be increased from $0.30 to $1.00
Additionally, the unit charge would be increased from $0.50 to $0.70.
The fare increases, in response to inflation and high gas prices, were posted on the Taxi and Limousine Commission's notice of a public hearing on the changes, scheduled for October 6.
That will be followed by a vote, and if approved, the hikes would go into effect 30 days later.
However, congestion pricing could throw a wrench into these plays.
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