Grey Cab Prince Albert and Checker & Family Taxi are looking for an increase in fares. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Rising Fees?

Two P.A. cab companies asking for increase to taxi fares

Nov 16, 2021 | 4:06 PM

Two of Prince Albert’s taxi companies are looking for fares to be raised.

Grey Cab Prince Albert and Checker & Family Taxi are asking the city’s council for a 12 per cent increase.

If approved, this would raise the starting fare to $3.90 from $3.50 and the running fee per km to $3.40 from $3.

If a trip starts and finishes at the same spot, the fee per km currently sits at $1.

The two companies are asking for the increase to help cover the rising costs to maintain vehicles and other expenses drivers and operators are currently facing.

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“Everything is going up,” said Hetal Patel, president of Grey Cab Prince Albert.

The biggest issue is the price of gas.

Pardeep Kumar with Checker & Family told paNOW his employers are feeling the pinch with prices as high as they are.

“The gas used to be like $45 and now it’s costing you $60 a shift.”

The last time fares were increased was in 2018.

Meanwhile, at least one member of P.A.’s council currently isn’t a fan of the proposed increase.

Mayor Greg Dionne told reporters he believes taxi users are paying more for their dollar already compared to other cities in Saskatchewan.

“I find I can go farther in Saskatoon with my money than I can in P.A.”

According to the City of Saskatoon, the starting fare is $3.75 for the first 125 meters with drivers expected to pay an additional 25 cents every time the cab travels 117 meters and another 25 cents for every 35 seconds of driving.

As for Regina, the city has its starting fare at $4 for the first 120 meters with the fee going up by 25 cents for each additional 138 meters traveled.

The City of P.A. is also reviewing fares in other Saskatchewan cities.

P.A.’s council wants to compare prices before making a final decision.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow