Taxi Fuel Surcharge a Near-Certainty

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 31, 2010 2:44PM

Barring a sudden and steep decrease in the average price of a gallon of gas, the city will start adding a $1 fuel surcharge as of midnight Monday. Happy New Year!

The trigger for the increase is when the average price for a gallon of gas rises above $3.20 for seven consecutive business days. But since the city considers Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve holidays, the seventh consecutive day will be Monday. Currently, the average price of a gallon of gas in Chicago is $3.301 a gallon. Sure, it's possible that the price will drop 11 cents by Monday. But it's not likely.

Cab drivers are against the fuel surcharge, arguing that none of the surcharge goes to them, and instead want a 22 percent rate increase. (h/t Gaper's)