By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Fluctuating fuel prices will mean more expensive taxi cab rates, if councilors agree Tuesday.

A plan tying cab rates to gasoline prices proved to be too flexible, according to City Clerk Kathy Montejo.

It’s forced the city to raise and lower taxi rates three times since it was adopted in September.

“That was built around the idea that those fuel costs would be a temporary thing,” Montejo said. Those increases were designed to go away, once fuel costs dropped below $1.90 per gallon.

“But the high fuel prices are looking to be much more permanent, so we want to change our rate schedule,” she said.

The new plan boosts rates in each of Lewiston’s seven taxi zones zone by 25 cents. The zones all begin downtown and radiate out. The farther a zone is from the downtown, the more the taxi can charge for a ride.

For example, a ride beginning and ending in Lewiston’s Zone 1 costs $4. A ride that ends in the No Name Pond neighborhood costs $6.

The new plan keeps the fuel fee, but changes it. It sets a new threshold at $2.20 per gallon for regular gasoline, not $1.90. If gas prices go up by 20 cents per gallon, cab drivers can charge an additional 10 cents per call.

“That should be a better starting point,” Montejo said. “We hope it will be better for the drivers and for the riders. They’ll have a better idea of what each ride is going to cost.”

Councilors are scheduled to vote on the fee plan at Tuesday’s meeting in Lewiston City Hall. That meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than usual City Council meeting times.

Copy the Story Link