US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - PHL-Center City Taxi Fare Increase

According to a small article in the Inquirer today, taxi fares are due to rise next month. The fare from the airport to downtown will be $25.00 (it's now $20.00) and the service area will be expanded to include 30th Street Station and the Art Museum area. I don't think there has been a fare increase since this flat fee was instigated, so considering inflation and the gas prices, it seems pretty fair to me and long overdue. The Philadelphia Parking Authority has taken over the regulation and oversight of the medallion taxis and I think both cleanliness service have improved. I take city cabs daily, so I speak with some experience.

Jane in PHL

You are right, the increase is overdue and fair, esp. in light of gasoline prices. However, the SEPTA R1 Airport train is only $5 and the two Center City Stations - Market East and Suburban - are very close to most CC hotels and the Convention Center.

FYI, the R1 fare is currently $5.50. I still prefer it most of the time to taxis.

Taxi fares haven't risen since 1991. I'd rather they not go up, but the sake of the drivers it's probably time.

if that money can somehow find it's way to get more modern cabs in philly, that would be nice.
regardless, it is probably high time to have the fare raised.

Remeber, this is all under consideration. Nothing is official until the PPA decides it at its June 27 meeting. Of course it would be perfect timing if it happens then, because it takes effect on July 1, the day before all the hoopla surrounding Live 8 and Sunoco Welcome America on July 4. I know I will be busy those 4-5 days. :(

The cabs here blow. All washed up and used NYC cabs - for the most part. Though, I have seen some newer cabs from PHL taxi, which is a good sign.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/4587802/detail.html

Supposedly there is a new focus on training and licensing cabbies here in Philly. All cabbies will have to take a class and pass a test on customer service and navigation (even existing cabbies... nobody is grandfathered). A few weeks ago a training video for cabbies was being filmed in front of my office as part of the new customer service training program. We'll see if this helps any. Philly is very walkable (unlike NYC) and is just not a big cab town, which I think keeps expectations low.

Part of the problem with Philly cabs is that most of them are leased from a few garages in the city (since buying a cab medallion is so expensive). The cabs are run more-or-less continuously, and the drivers have little incentive to keep them nice. In D.C., for example, most of the cabs are privately owned and the cabbies take more pride in them (at least from what I've seen).

I'm going to be in PHL next month for a conference. I have an 8:30 am flight out of PHL on a Friday morning - is it going to be tough for me to get a cab? Do I need to arrange something ahead of time? And, while I'm here - how early do I need to leave to make my flight? I'm not planning on checking bags...

Thanks!!

Where are you going to be staying? Getting a cab in Philly is easy, especially Center City (which would be called downtown by anyone not from the area). If you called 215-225-3000 you'd get a cab company, which one, I forgot. Yellow Cab is 215-333-3333.

And as for leaving from wherever. Make sure you are at the airport about an hour before your flight (from my experience). Depending on the lines at security, it can take a while before you get through. So, leave perhaps at 7 to 715 from Center City.