The D.C. Taxicab Commission will raise fares beginning April 21. The charge per mile will increase from $1.50 to $2.16, and the hourly wait fee will be raised from $15 to $25, according to an April 11 article in the Washington Post.
D.C. Taxicab Commission proposed increase fares in a bill to the D.C. Council in order to: increase the wages of D.C. cab drivers, modify fees for additional passengers, small animals and large bags, improve cab quality, such as upgrading to newer models of cars, and allow passengers to pay with credit cards.
D.C. taxi fares are some of the lowest in the nation, so these increases are a welcome change for cab drivers, according to the bill.
School of Communication freshman Cassandra Heikkila said she believes fare adjustments will prohibit her from reaching different parts of D.C.
“When I want to go volunteer in non-Metro accessible areas, it’s already expensive to take a cab,” she said. “If it gets any more expensive I will have to stop volunteering at all the places I really love.”
However, School of Public Affairs freshman Andy Lee said these increases are for the best.
“Though I understand the frustration people feel when rates on any public good increase, it is all for the best,” he said. “Taxi drivers are normal people with normal problems, they need more money too.”
