D.C. taxicab commission expands ‘shared’ riding in city’s taxis

A line of taxi cabs, as seen from City Sights DC, wait to pick up passengers at Union Station in Washington, D.C. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

D.C. taxis will be able to pick up multiple passengers who don’t know each other and are going to different locations on Wednesday, the D.C. Taxicab Commission said.

The Commission has authorized an emergency expansion of “shared” riding to be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday until 5 a.m. Thursday, when the Metrorail system will stay closed. With this temporary change, the commission allows shared rides to be taken from any of the city’s 57 taxicab stands and within one mile of any Metrorail station.

If you take a taxi “shared” ride, here’s how the pay system will work: as each passenger reaches their destination, the metered fare is paid by the passenger exiting the cab. The meter then starts over to the next destination. Taxi driver are required to charge the metered taxicab rates and there will be no additional surcharges.

Because the Metrorail shutdown is expected to place “an extraordinary strain on the local transportation system,” the Commision said it found it necessary to issue the change to help “assist commuters, residents, and visitors in the District of Columbia and surrounding communities during the 29-hour shutdown.”

DCTC Chairman Ernest Chrappah said this actions should help expand the transportation options for residents and visitors during the suspension of Metrorail operations.

“The public should be assured that vehicles for hire can fulfill some mobility needs,” he said.