(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray signed an executive order last Friday authorizing a $1.00 fuel surcharge for all taxicab rides originating or terminating within the District of Columbia. The charge took effect Monday for all fares originating and ending in the District. It has been extended, effective today, to trips that begin in the District and end in other jurisdictions.

The action followed a recommendation from the DC Taxicab Commission to offset the impact of the steady rise in fuel prices in the metropolitan area on taxicab operators. As originally adopted the surcharge -- just as a similar surcharge that the DC Taxicab Commission adopted in 2008 – was intended to apply only to fares originating and ending within the District of Columbia. However, the rulemaking action was revised yesterday to make it applicable to all taxicab fares. As revised, the charge will remain in effect until July 27, 2011, unless terminated earlier by the Chairperson of the Taxicab Commission.

The District’s taxicab rates were set in April of 2008 and have not been adjusted since that time. The city last imposed a $1.00 surcharge in May of 2008 and repealed it in December of 2008 due to declining gas prices. A number of other jurisdictions have also imposed surcharges. Arlington County has a $1 gas surcharge -- adopted in 2008 and still in effect. Other cities around the region and nation have adopted similar or higher fuel surcharges, including Atlanta ($2.00 surcharge, effective February 17, 2011) and Chicago ($1.00 surcharge, effective January 3, 2011).

For further information, contact the DC Taxicab Commission at (202) 645-6018.