Gas surcharge eliminated from cab fares

As of this week, a cab ride to Center City will cost a little bit less.

The 50-cent gas surcharge taxis began charging in June was recently nixed in response to dropping gas prices.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority's board voted to drop the extra charge - which raised the base fare from $2.70 to $3.20 - that went into effect on June 2nd when average gas prices had passed the $4 mark.

"It's all about balancing the interests of the drivers and the public," said James Ney, head of the Philadelphia Parking Authority's Taxicab and Limousine division. "Drivers were paying exorbitant amounts for gas."

Students say they appreciate the elimination of the surcharge and the extra pocket change it will provide.

"I think the fact they have removed the surcharge makes sense," said College sophomore Gideon Spitzer. "When I went home for Thanksgiving and refilled my own gas tank for the first time since the summer, it really set in how much gas prices had declined since August," he said.

Still, Spitzer said, the 50-cent price hike was small enough that it didn't serve as a major deterrent while in place, especially in comparison to price increases in other modes of transportation like airline flights.

"The lack of a fuel surcharge hasn't really affected my degree of travel into Center City, although it certainly makes the taxi more even in comparison to SEPTA," Spitzer said.

The Parking Authority can choose to instate a surcharge if the 10-day average cost of regular gasoline in Philadelphia is above $3.50 per gallon.It can choose to eliminate the surcharge if the 10-day average cost of gas is below $3.50.

Gas prices started falling in late September, but the Parking Authority waited for more than a month before choosing to drop the surcharge.

Wharton and Engineering sophomore Vik Chawla said he thought the elimination of the surcharge is "appropriate," but wasn't sure why it took them so long to do so.

"I find it interesting that these companies are only now slashing these premiums, even though the price of fuel fell to a 2002 low a few weeks ago," he said.

Ney said this delay between the drop in gas prices and the elimination of the surcharge served to ensure the trend would continue.

"Even prior to our last board meeting they had fallen to a level, so we waited and watched for one more month," he said.

The extra time was meant to help cab owners make up for the money they lost before the surcharge went into effect.

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