Atlanta City Council to vote on significant taxi fare increase
The Council’s Transportation Committee voted 5-0 Wednesday to move the proposal to the full city council. Two members were absent for the vote. (Jeff Martin/AP)
An Atlanta City Council committee has passed a significant increase in taxicab fares, including those to and from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
The Council’s Transportation Committee voted 5-0 Wednesday to move the proposal to the full City Council, with two members absent for the vote.
Airport flat rate fares to and from Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead would increase by about 20%. This, however, would not affect ride hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.
Metered taxi fares are also proposed to go up about 20%, with a 10-mile Atlanta cab ride going from $22 to $27. The minimum fare for any trip would be $10.
Earlier this month, Atlanta Checker Cab President Rick Hewitt told Council members about the industry’s challenges.
“Onslaught of the rideshares … the cab companies which are left are struggling to make ends meet,” said Hewitt.
“We haven’t had a rate increase in about 18 years. Price of living and the cost of providing vehicles, maintenance, blah, blah, blah has increased tremendously in that amount of time.”
One thing that is not changing is the 20% discount on metered fares for disabled persons and those 65 and over, as well as the standing $2 fuel surcharge for when regular unleaded is over $2.90 a gallon.
The full City Council is expected to vote on the proposal at their June 5 meeting.
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