June 11 — Boston taxi drivers are pushing the city to approve a fare hike, a move that could make safe, late-night transportation for students more expensive and less accessible than it is now.
Citing rising gas prices and cost-of-living increases, cab drivers sponsoring the proposal are asking to up the initial fare from $2.25 to $2.75 and to increase per-mile rates by 50 percent to $3.60. The Boston Police department regulates fares and must approve the request.
With the city’s public transportation system shutting down shortly after midnight and many students without cars, those out into the a.m. might soon need to dig deeper into their pockets to afford a safe ride home.
The Boston University Shuttle finishes its last loop around campus just after 11 p.m. and does not run on weekends. Parking and Transportation Services Director Dwight Antheron said his office does not intend to expand BUS service hours, despite student interest, in an interview at the end of April.
The Escort Security Service, a student group that aims to maintain campus safety, is available to walk students to points on campus until 2 a.m. during the week and 3 a.m. on weekends. The university administration cut the group’s van in fall 2006, citing a budget shortfall.
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said the van had been abused as a taxi service in the past, but after increased concerns about safety prompted discussion about late-night transportation among students last semester, the Dean of Students Office began to explore options, Elmore said in April.
Student Union President Matt Seidel, who took office last month, said he has been working with top administrators to get a late-night shuttle service on campus, but that there is “a lot of bureaucracy” to go through before such a vehicle would exist.
College of Communication junior Libby Allen said she would appreciate a campus shuttle service and she usually walks home if she is out after the T closes. Cabs, she said, are already too expensive.
Donna Shaw, a representative for the United Steelworkers union, the organizers for Boston taxi drivers, said a taxi fare increase is reasonable since there has not been a fare increase in six years and many drivers are struggling to make ends meet. If approved, the proposal would make a Boston cab ride one of the most expensive in the nation.
“Boston has been cited as the second most expensive city to live in and our drivers are the cheapest, comparatively,” she said.
Shaw said she does not believe the fare increase will affect business.
“Most people recognize that drivers need to make a fair wage in order to stay above the poverty level,” she said.
Tunnel Taxi driver Tom Bradley said he is not in favor of increasing fares. He said he has always made money by driving a cab and believes taxi companies should focus more on bringing in customers than on getting more money from each customer.
“[Fares are] already high enough,” he said.
The fare increase proposal will be reviewed at a public hearing at Roxbury Community College on June 24.
