Mayor Adrian Fenty has ordered all D.C. taxicabs to switch to time and distance meters, abandoning forever the controversial zone system that has been unique to Washington for decades.

“As we work to become a world-class city, it is essential that all aspects of District government are user friendly, fair and efficient for residents and visitors alike,” Fenty said in a statement released to the media. “District residents are overwhelmingly in favor of modernizing and simplifying the fare system. By switching to time and distance meters, we meet the needs of the residents and standardize the experience for every taxi passenger.”

Looks like the Post got the press release before we did.

So what do you think, Washington? Happy now? There’s no early indication of when exactly the change will take place, just that the Fenty administration will work with the Taxicab Commission to create a timeline and transition plan.

Photo by Flickr user Julep67, used under a creative commons license.