Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Contact: Richard Hartman 703-228-4019 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington Approves Temporary Surcharge to Help Taxi Drivers Cope with Increased Fuel Costs
$1.00 surcharge effective immediately, public hearing set to consider permanent increases
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today approved a temporary fuel surcharge of $1.00 on taxicab trips to help taxi drivers cover increased gasoline costs. The changes will take effect immediately and will be in place for no more than 60 days unless re-enacted by the Board on a non-emergency basis.
The Board also set a public hearing for July 19 to consider two options for increasing taxi cab fares—a $1.00 gasoline surcharge added for each trip and/or an increase in mileage charge from $1.80 to $2.00 per mile.
“This temporary surcharge will provide some much-needed relief to taxi drivers and give the County Board time to hear from customers and the taxicab industry before we consider a permanent rate change,” said County Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada.
Fuel Cost Increases
The last gasoline surcharge was enacted in June 2005 in response to the price of gasoline increasing to about $2.40 per gallon in July of that year. The price of gasoline spiked to more than $3.00 per gallon in September, after Hurricane Katrina. In recent months, the price of gasoline has risen to an average of $4.00 per gallon nationwide.
The Board last approved a taxicab fare increase (not surcharge) in Arlington in October 2005. That increase went into effect November 1, 2005. At that time, the initial drop charge remained $2.75; the mileage charge was increased from $1.60 per mile to $1.80 per mile. These fare increases replaced a $0.50 per trip gasoline surcharge that had been enacted in June.
Other jurisdictions throughout the region are considering instituting or increasing a gasoline surcharge or raising fares in response to the recent rise in the price of gasoline.
The fare surcharge will apply to all taxicab trips, including those for disabled persons under the Specialized Transportation for Arlington Residents (STAR) program, for which the County contracts with Arlington taxi companies. The increase for the program will cost the County an additional $66,000 per year.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
