Given the record high gasoline prices consumers are paying at the pump right now, it’s not terribly surprising that the D.C. Taxicab Commission took “emergency action” this week to extend the expiration date of the current $1 per trip gas surcharge by another 120 days. The previous gas surcharge, which was also an “emergency” extension, went into effect at the end of January and expired on May 28.

When the $1 gas surcharge cycle we’re on right now first began, in late November of 2007, average gas prices were around $3.13 per gallon. Two years before that, when an earlier $1 gas surcharge went into effect, prices in the city were around $2.59. So what we’re wondering is: when exactly does the Taxicab Commission expect prices will be at a level when the $1 surcharge will no longer need to be extended via “emergency” action? Could it instead be time just to permanently raise prices?

This latest “emergency” action by the Commission extended the gas surcharge through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. But it seems likely we’ll be writing this exact same post a fourth time on Friday, Sept. 29 unless, between now and then, the Commission and the Mayor can come to some agreement between them about what this “emergency” gas surcharge is actually trying to solve. Given that the new metered rates are now in effect, it may be tough for Fenty to go back on his word about not having a $4 initial drop fee. At the same time, we’ll have been paying a de facto $4 drop fee for months already when this latest extension expires. At some point, wouldn’t you rather just pay an increased fare rather than a constantly extended, not very transparent additional fee?

Photo by Samer Farha