Get ready to fork over more for taxi trips! The nine-member Taxi and Limousine Commission voted at noon today to approve a 17 percent fare hike for New York’s city taxi cabs.
The fare hike was approved as six board members voted yes, two voted no and one abstained.
The increase would go into effect as early as September. It is the first taxi fare hike in six years.
Currently, all cabs have an initial rate of $3.00, with 40 cents for each additional half mile, or 60 seconds of being stopped or moving in slow traffic.
The new increase would only apply to the per mile charge, raising it to 50 cents.
The average trip, costing about $12.25, would now be $14.00, said Allan Fromberg, spokesman for the TLC.
Trips between Manhattan and JFK would also rise from a flat rate of $45 now to $52, plus tolls.
Cab drivers said they think fares should be raised even higher.
“We are a hard working people, we help everyone move around the city,” said veteran driver Berford Simmons.
The TLC estimated that taxi drivers make $130 in a 12-hour shift, an amount that is 24 percent less than they made in 2006 when accounting for inflation.
“[Taxi driving] is becoming an increasingly harder and more stressful job,” said another driver. “Cab drivers are suffering.”
Several drivers added they would have also liked to see a morning rush hour and late night surcharge.
