Taxicab Flat Rate to Airport Temporarily Suspended

During Planned I-5 Lane Closures, Aug. 10-29

SEATTLE – City of Seattle officials announced today a temporary suspension of the $28 flat rate from the downtown hotel district to Sea-Tac Airport during the I-5 lane closures, planned for Aug. 10-29. Fares will instead be computed by the taximeters to ensure cab drivers are fairly compensated for what are expected to be longer trips due to traffic delays. The flat rate will be reinstated when traffic delays due to construction have ended.

Traffic delays have a direct impact on fares because when taxicabs operate at speeds slower than 15 miles per hour, taximeters use a 50 cents per minute time charge, instead of the $2 per mile distance charge. For example, a 40-minute delay would add $20 to the fare.

Ordinance 121131, adopted by the City Council in April 2003, authorizes the director of the Department of Executive Administration to temporarily suspend the flat rate from the downtown hotel district to Sea-Tac Airport when conditions result in an average increase of ten (10) minutes to the normal trip time and are beyond the control of the drivers. The Aug. 10-29 construction is expected to cause increased trip times to the airport.

“Time charges are programmed into taximeters to more fairly compensate taxicab drivers for providing service in heavy traffic conditions, such as rush hour traffic or event traffic. If there were no time charge, taxicab drivers could avoid working certain areas or times and seriously limit the availability of taxicab service,” explained Craig Leisy, manager of the consumer affairs unit. Taximeters are regularly tested and sealed by Seattle taxicab inspectors to assure accuracy.

The flat rate between the downtown hotel district and Sea-Tac Airport was established in 2000 to reassure out-of-town visitors that taxicabs were taking the most direct route to the airport and not overcharging. Many cities have established flat rates between their downtowns and airports for the same reason.

Taxicab passengers going to the airport during the I-5 closures are encouraged to share trips and the fares, or try to plan airport trips during off-peak hours when traffic may be lighter.