A big taxi-fare hike might be just a hail away.
Yellow-cab fleet owners want a whopping fare increase that would boost the price of a cab ride by 19 percent and increase the base fare to $3 — in the same year the MTA is set to hike subway and bus fares.
If approved by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the increase would bump a five-mile cab ride from $13 to $15.50 — and that doesn’t count any idling time, or the tip.
The proposal was submitted by the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, the largest group representing medallion owners.
The last time the group requested a 26 percent fare hike in 2003, they got it in 2004.
The elements of the proposal include:
* Raising the cost of simply getting into a cab from $2.50 to $3 — and that doesn’t include the 50 cent “MTA” tax Albany slapped onto the base fare last year.
* Increasing the flat fare to Kennedy Airport from $45 to $53, an 18 percent hike. That figure doesn’t count tolls or tip.
* Tinkering with the number of times a 40 cent “click” occurs, essentially raising the number of times a passenger is charged. Riders would be charged 40 cents every sixth of a mile the cab moves. Right now, the charge occurs every fifth of a mile. That would increase the distance charge 20 percent.
The owners also want to change the definition of an idling click to every minute a cab idles, or travels at 10 mph or below. Right now, per-minute idling clicks are charged at speeds of 12 mph or below.
Taxi and Limousine Commission officials are reviewing the fleet owners’ proposal.
“The taxi industry has the right to petition for a fare increase, and we will evaluate that petition,” said TLC Chairman David Yassky.
There’s no timetable for when public hearing may be held on the proposal, or when the increase might kick if enacted.
Fleet owners, who represent about 3,500 of the 13,000 yellow taxis in the city, submitted their proposal to the TLC last spring.
Higher expenses justify a hike, the fleet owners say.
“The only way we’re able to offset costs is through an increase,” said Michael Woloz, spokesman for the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade.
Additional reporting by Kelly Magee