Contact: Leon J. Swain, Jr. (202) 645-6018

The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (“Commission”) took emergency action on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 and voted to extend the expiration date of the current $1.00 per trip gasoline surcharge by one hundred and twenty days (120) days to aid drivers in meeting the soaring cost of gasoline.  The current surcharge was set to expire at  11:59 pm (EST)  Tuesday, January 29, 2008.  The Commission extended the expiration date to 11:59 pm (EST) Wednesday, May 28, 2008, unless earlier terminated by the Commission.

Before taking emergency action, the Commission voiced concern that taxicab operators may not be able to continue to meet their obligation to provide vital transportation service to the public without the surcharge.  The Commission noted that the price of regular unleaded gasoline in Washington, D.C. has remained relatively high in comparison to other parts of the region and the country. 

The fuel surcharge will only affect fares for point-to-point service within the District and do not apply to interstate fares.

The emergency fuel surcharge in effect during this period adds one dollar ($1.00) to the current zone rates listed below:

Number of Zones	Current Fares	Fares Plus Traveled
1	$6.50	$7.50
2	$8.80	$9.80
3	$11.00	$12.00
4	$12.60	$13.60
5	$14.00	$15.00
6	$15.50	$16.50
7	$17.80	$18.80
8	$18.90	$19.90