Meters at Last
Mayor Fenty approves a long-overdue reform for D.C. taxis.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

THE EXPERIENCE of hailing a cab in the District is about to get a lot better. Thanks to a gutsy call by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, taxi passengers will find it easier to understand the fares they are charged and will be less likely to be cheated. That Mr. Fenty responded to the frustration of people who use cabs and not to the self-interest of those who drive them is a hopeful sign that the District government may finally be serious about improving services.

Mr. Fenty's announcement mandating a switch from a zone system of calculating fares to metering based on time and distance caps decades of debate. It's a welcome move for those fed up with a system that is confusing, unfair and subject to abuse. It should be the final word on this emotional issue, since Congress gave the mayor sole authority to make the decision. No doubt those opposed to meters will try to thwart the change, but Mr. Fenty is resolute that the District -- if it is to be a world-class city -- can no longer afford to have embarrassing taxicab service.

Mr. Fenty made clear his intent to bring about quick reform by not ceding any real authority to the D.C. Taxicab Commission. Normally, it would be up to the commission to formulate new rates and regulations and an implementation schedule, which would then be subject to review by the D.C. Council. But the taxi commission has proven useless at providing any real oversight of the industry -- as demonstrated by its recent inability to arrive at a recommendation on pricing. The mayor's office will work with the chairman of the commission to get public input on implementation plans, but the final word will be Mr. Fenty's. Outstanding issues include how much time taxi drivers should be given to make the change, and whether the city should help drivers purchase meters. There is also the question of whether parts of the city with concentrations of low-income residents should be given some kind of fare break.

Freed from the tiresome question of meters vs. zones, the District can now have a larger conversation about other ways to upgrade taxi service.