$1 Taxi Fuel Surcharge Approved Temporarily In Fairfax County

Vienna VA

13 April, 2022

11:44 AM

Description

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County will temporarily have a $1 fuel surcharge on taxicab trips to account for increased gas prices. The Board of Supervisors approved the fuel surcharge Tuesday in response to a request from the taxicab industry. The temporary surcharge will be in effect from April 13 to June 11. Old Dominion Transportation Group, Inc. which runs about 130 of the 150 taxicabs in the county, had originally requested a $2 surcharge, but county staff recommended a $1 surcharge instead. In the request, the taxicab company cited increased gas prices that drivers absorb the costs of. Gas is a non-reimbursed expense for drivers, and taxicab rates are based on the gas price of $3.66 per gallon from July 2014. "We have seen some decline slightly since we submitted our board item on March 30," said Rebecca Makely, acting director of the Department of Cable and Consumer Services. "Prices have come down some, but it still would provide rate relief to the taxicab drivers which currently right now are experiencing higher fuel price than what the current taxicab rates are based on when they were last increased." Makely noted that the surcharge does not apply to ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, as Fairfax County does not regulate their prices. Uber and Lyft have $0.45 or $0.55 surcharges. Gas prices peaked at $4.337 on March 11, according to AAA data for the Northern Virginia region. The current average for Northern Virginia is $4.050, which is lower than $4.309 a month ago but significantly more than $2.793 a year ago. Fairfax County's temporary measure joins Prince William County's $1 surcharge for 60 days that started March 15 and DC's $1 surcharge for 120 days from March 16. Arlington County and the City of Alexandria could have a $1 surcharge pending approval.