Metro

Hey, let’s ‘split’ now

Let the fare sharing begin.

On Friday, taxis will begin rolling out “group ride” rates, where passengers can share a cab with a stranger for steep discounts.

Like a bus route, the yellow cabs will have designated start and drop-off locations and will operate during the morning rush hours, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

This is one in a series of taxi overhauls planned by outgoing Taxi and Limousine Commission chief Matt Daus.

Another change, coming later this year, will allow riders to hail certain types of cabs already carrying passengers — known as “ride sharing” — in exchange for easily splitting the fare.

Those cabs will have some kind of sign designating which neighborhood the cab is going to, so people can determine whether they want to hop in or not.

The group rides, beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, will depart from the following locations:

* West 57th Street and Eighth Avenue, with drop-offs allowed on Park Avenue between East 57th and 42nd streets.

* West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue with drop-offs on Park Avenue between East 72nd and 42nd Streets.

* East 72nd Street and Third Avenue, with drop-offs on Park Avenue from East 72nd to 42nd streets.

To qualify for the discount, there has to be more than one person in the cab. The prices per person, excluding tip, are a flat rate of $3, $4, and $4, respectively, no matter how far a passenger travels along the route. Up to four passengers can take one cab and pay with a credit card or cash. Sharing a fare could save a rider as much as $3.44.

Once a group ride has begun, extra passengers will not be picked up along the way.

“The concept really boils down to: Take less money out of passengers’ pockets, put more money in drivers’ pockets, put less pollution in the air and give passengers more transportation options,” Daus said.

“What’s not to like?” he added.

To determine the routes, the TLC analyzed GPS trip data to determine which areas have a high number of pick- ups, a high number of drop-offs and the average fare between those two points.

When he first announced the group ride idea last year, Daus said he would consider expanding it to other areas and times other than rush hour.

On Monday, TV screens in taxis will begin airing a public service announcement explaining the group rides.

The videos will display an animated sample of the routes and prices.

TLC officials will begin distributing cards tomorrow that explain the program. City officials will have a kickoff event Thursday to spread the word about the group-ride stands.

tom.namako@nypost.com