New York Taxi drivers get first raise in 10 years, cab fares expected to increase 23% 

The wages for New York City’s yellow taxi drivers will increase for the first time in 10 years, causing the average cost of a ride to increase by 23%, authorities announced on Tuesday. 

The changes approved by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will increase the base fare for taxi drivers from $2.50 to $3.00. Additionally, the rush hour surcharge will increase by $1.50, by 50 cents for the overnight surcharge. 

A new $5 surcharge will be added to all trips going to and from LaGuardia Airport. The surcharge for Taxi trips to and from Newark Airport will increase from $17.50 to $20. The flat rate for taxi rides from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy airport will go up from $52.00 to $70.00. 

Additionally, shared car services, such as Uber and Lyft, will also see their per minute wages increase by 7.8% and per mile rates increase for the first time since 2019. 

According to the TLC, the changes will increase the taxi drivers’ pay by 33%, helping out many of those who struggled during the pandemic, when 47% of the city’s taxis were off the streets. 

“It’s going to help us at least get a couple more dollars in our pocket, so this is really a good thing,” taxi driver Saibou Sidibe, who’s been a yellow cab driver since 2002, said after the vote.

The new fares are expected to go into effect by the end of the year. 

“Raising taxi fare rates and minimum pay for high-volume drivers is the right thing to do for our city,” Do wrote in a statement. “This is the first taxi fare increase in 10 years, and these raises will help offset increased operating expenses and the cost of living for TLC-licensed drivers. We are confident that today’s unanimous commission vote will keep our taxi and FHV fleets sustainable and ready to serve New Yorkers.”