Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Director of Finance in consultation with the General Manager of Community Services

SUBJECT:

Taxicab Fare Increase

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

On May 20, 1993, Council approved advising the Motor Carrier Commission that it supported a uniform schedule of rates for taxi companies in the lower mainland.

On December 9, 1997, Council approved advising the four licenced Vancouver taxi companies as well as the Motor Carrier Commission that it will not consider a fare increase until after the Motor Carrier Commission rules on the regional fare.

PURPOSE

This report is intended to provide Council with the background information regarding the approval of a fare increase by the Motor Carrier Commission, and recommend Council also adopt that fare increase.

BACKGROUND

The taxi industry in the City is regulated by Council and by the provincial Motor Carrier Commission. The City regulates taxi companies in Vancouver under the Vehicle for Hire By-Law. Among other things, the bylaw governs the rates that taxi companies can charge when picking up fares in the City.

The Motor Carrier Commission has the superior role in the regulation of the taxi industry in the lower mainland. Any action by Council on taxi fares is subject to approval by the MCC. As a result, the practice has been for Vancouver taxi companies wishing a fare increase to come first to Council for approval and then take the result to the MCC. Once the MCC has approved the increase, Council amends the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw.

In August 1991, Council approved a taxi fare increase of 4.7%. This increase was subsequently approved by the Motor Carrier Commission and applied on a regional basis. The new rates came into effect as of October 15, 1991.

In September, 1992, Council approved an additional fare increase of 3.8%. However, because of objections raised from other lower mainland taxi companies to the MCC, this increase was withdrawn. Even though it was approved by Council, the increase was never put in place in Vancouver.

In 1993, the Motor Carrier Commission held a general hearing to discuss various issues arising from the operations of the taxi industry. In May, 1993, Council approved the City's position in regard to various issues to be discussed at the hearing, one of which was that there should be a uniform rate structure for the lower mainland, including the Vancouver airport.

DISCUSSION

Review of Taxi Rates

In May 1997, the City received an application from a representative of the four licenced Vancouver taxi companies for a taxi fare increase. That increase included the following components:

Flag Rate $1.96 $2.3419.4%
Distance Charge (per km) $1.13 $1.2611.5%
Waiting Time (per hr) $18.79 $23.3624.3%

The Vancouver taxi companies also forwarded the same request to the Motor Carrier Commission. In total, the Commission received requests from 25 of the 26 taxi companies which operate in the Greater Vancouver Region.

On August 4, 1998 the Motor Carrier Commission ruled on these applications. The decision of the MCC is on file with the City Clerk's department. The Commission approved an increase in rates as follows:

Flag Rate $1.96 $2.159.5%
Distance Charge (per km) $1.13 $1.151.7%
Waiting Time (per hr) $18.79 $22.4319.4%

The Motor Carrier Commission also amended some miscellaneous fees. The fee for handling passenger baggage was eliminated and the dismissal fee was increased to $2.00. The MCC estimates that the revised rates will increase industry revenues by approximately 3%. For a basic 15 kilometre trip, the cost to the consumer will increase from $20.25 to $20.75 (2.5%).

Related Issues

In reviewing a request for fare increase in December of 1997, Council requested a report back on related taxi issues. The following represents a response in the order the issues were raised:

CONCLUSION

Given Council's view on the appropriateness of a uniform regional rate, staff believe that Council should approve the rates as set by the Motor Carrier Commission.

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ag980915.htm


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