Hike in Medford Cab Fare Rates Approved

An approved hike to Medford taxi cab fare rates may have some deciding to take a walk instead.

The Medford City Council unanimously approved the rate increases at their meeting Tuesday night. The new rates were requested by Medford Taxi Company owner Lester Marowitz in a resolution submitted to the council.

Cab rates are currently set at $1.60 for the first eighth of a mile and 45 cents for each eighth of a mile after that, with a waiting time rate of $22 an hour. The new rates will be $2.40 for the first eighth of a mile and 55 cents for each mile after that, with a waiting time rate of $26 an hour.

Marowitz said cab drivers asked him to submit a request for the increase. Medford hasn't considered a cab fare increase in about six years.

"They’ve been waiting for a long, long time," Marowitz said. "Last time I was here gasoline was 1.75 a gallon, now it’s $4 a gallon."

City Councilors said the increase is reasonable, given steadily rising fuel costs.

“I look at this as a modest increase,” said Councilor Mark Arena.

The approved increase will apply to all cab companies, not just Medford Taxi. Marowitz operates about 12 cabs a day in Medford he said.

“It’s going to certainly going to help me, but my insurance is going up, my maintenance is going up, so on and so forth," Marowitz said. “It benefits me also, but it’s their (the drivers') choice.”

The increase brings Medford's rates in line with nearby communities. Everett and Malden both have rates of $2.45 for the first eighth of a mile.

Marowitz' company has been around Medford for years, and has a good reputation, councilor Robert Penta said.

"To survive, it’s what you need to do," Penta said.

It will take between two weeks and a month for the increases to go into effect, City Clerk Ed Finn said. The resolution will have to be reformatted, the language approved by the City Solicitor, sent to Mayor Michael McGlynn's desk, then advertised. At that point, cab companies will be allowed to charge the higher rates, Finn said.