EVERETT – Taxi riders in Snohomish County will soon have to cough up another 20 cents per mile.
The Everett City Council Wednesday night approved the first taxi-rate hike in seven years.
The change would affect the entire county because taxi companies generally charge the rates that Everett sets.
The rate increase took effect immediately. But riders won’t pay more for at least a week or two, because taxi companies have to recalibrate their meters.
The flag and per-mile rates will each rise from $1.60 to $1.80. The cost for each additional passenger and for each minute of waiting time will remain at 50 cents.
Taxi drivers have argued that the rate increase is necessary to help them cope with rapidly rising gas costs and general increases in the cost of living.
“The drivers are delighted by this,” said Yellow Cab manager Gary Atterson.
The increase puts Snohomish County in line with King County and Seattle, which increased rates to $1.80 in the 1990s.
The City Council also voted to bar the granting of new taxi licenses for the next 90 days while it decides whether to impose a longer moratorium.
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