The four Evanston taxi cab companies proposed an increase in rates to cover growing costs at the Monday meeting of the Evanston City Council’s Administration and Planning Committee.
According to the proposal, the meter rate of $1.40 per mile could potentially jump to $1.90. The “flagpole” fee, or the initial rate charged before trip begins, would also see the same increase, said Alan Miller, secretary for Norshore Cab Assoc. board of directors. The additional passenger fee would remain at $1.00 per person.
The change in rates would affect Norshore and the additional three cab companies in Evanston: Better Cab Assoc., Best Taxi Service and Magic- Three-O-Three, Inc. All rate increases must be approved by City Council.
The proposal cited an increase in operational costs and no increase in revenue for drivers as the main reasons for the request. Since the last rate change in 1994, the prices of gas, insurance, maintenance and city taxes, such as vehicle tax stickers have all risen.
Because of the suburban location, drivers can spend more than they earn on a ride, Miller said. He noted that he recently drove nine minutes to get to a request that took six minutes to fill.
Neighboring communities such as Chicago and Skokie have recently increased fares and the Evanston proposal is comparable to those changes, Miller said.
The possible $.50 increase would be the maximum jump and the companies could charge less, Walter Wolff said.
“There’s room for discussion,” said Wolff, also of Norshore.
Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd) expressed concern Monday that the rate change would not help drivers. Miller and Wolff assured that drivers would receive the initial benefit from the rate increase and said that the taxi lease fee would remain constant for the first three months of the increase. Their ultimate goal with the rate increase would be to attract better drivers to the industry.
Ald. Gene Feldman (5th) also called attention to the city’s problematic discount coupon program, noting the many complaints of drivers’ “unacceptable behavior” in response to the coupons.
The program, often used by senior citizens, currently charges a flat rate fee of $3.50, with the driver absorbing the difference between the meter rate and the value of the coupon. According to informal surveys done by the companies, drivers lose on average $1 to $5 per discounted ride.
“The drivers are very resentful (of the program) and it’s mandated by law that they take these coupons,” Miller said. He called the flat rate policy an “antiquated system” that no longer works for local rides.
In response, the companies have proposed that the value of the coupon be deducted from the meter fare. This solution “will not change current administrative procedures or costs, and will only require a notification to users of the change in policy,” according to the proposal.
“We want to end (the problems) so that the elderly people of this community are not abused,” Feldman said. “I don’t want to come back in six months and hear the same thing.”
