Saint John seeks more input on taxi changes

Saint John council wants more input from the taxi industry before passing a new bylaw that would more fare meters into cabs and pull any vehicles older than seven years old off the road.

The bylaw had its first and second reading on Monday night, but council passed a motion calling on the city's taxi advisory committee to hold a public meeting 30 days before the bylaw goes before them again.

Coun. John MacKenzie says the introduction of meters and higher fares would be tough on low-income customers.

"I think to put the rates up even a couple of dollars, that's a couple of dollars per time you get in the cab. If you have to go to and from work or to doctors' appointments, it can add up," MacKenzie said.

The city has released a list of sample fares collected by Saint John's taxi inspector using the proposed new meter.

It shows a short trip between McAllister Mall and Michael Crescent in east Saint John might cost $5 instead of $6.

But most other trips shown would cost more.

A trip from Duke Street in the central peninsula to the Saint John Regional Hospital would increase to $13.30, from the current $8.

A trip from the uptown area to the Saint John airport would cost $40, which is about $10 more than under the zone system.

Age limits on vehicles a concern

Coun. Susan Fullerton said setting age limits on vehicles could also be costly for drivers.

"The economy in the city at this time is poor. And I'm very concerned for the drivers that . . . who within a year are going to have to go out and buy a much newer car," Fullerton said.

In 2011, a committee reviewed the city's taxi bylaws. Fullerton said there hasn't been any recent consultation with drivers since the review process began.

"I really want to feel that there is some consideration for these drivers who have not been really consulted in a formal way or surveyed or anything else since 2010 or 11, that's four or five years," she said.

Coun. Gerry Lowe has worked in the cab business for over 45 years. He had to sit out of the discussion and vote due to conflict of interest.

He told media after the meeting that he felt the public and the taxi industry weren't given enough consultation.

He said council made the right choice to call for another public meeting.

"They have been given the chance by this council to express their concern. So now the ball is in their court," he said.

"If they don't do nothing, if they don't go to the meeting or if the public doesn't come and express their concern on the new fares through these meters, it will be their loss."