ORDINANCE NO. __--_________, SERIES 2022
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 115.253 REGARDING RATES OF FARE FOR VEHICLES FOR HIRE (AS AMENDED).
BODY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER KEVIN KRAMER AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT DAVID JAMES
WHEREAS, Metro Council last amended ordinance detailing the rates of fare for vehicles for hire in 2006; and
WHEREAS, since that time, the Director of Codes and Regulations, as authorized by the ordinance, has used all his available discretion to increase fares when fuel prices increased beyond certain levels as prescribed in the legislation, and has no further ability to address rising fuel prices through administrative action; and
WHEREAS, recent events, including inflation and the market destabilization resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demonstrate the need to adjust the flexibility provided to the Director to address changing market conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: Section 115.253 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances (“LMCO”) is amended as follows:
§ 115.253 RATES FOR FARE
The following maximum rates of fare and fees are what may be charged for the use of a vehicle for hire and must be readily available to passengers in a manner prescribed within this subchapter or approved by the Department.
(A) Taxicabs.
(1) Hourly rate: $20.75 $23.86 per hour for one or more passengers.
(2) Mileage rate: $4.10 $5.50 for the first mile or less and $1.95 $2.55 for each additional mile.
(3) Each taximeter shall be calibrated to measure mileage in distances less than or equal to 1/10 of a mile.
(a) The mileage rate shall be equally apportioned over the distances measured by the taximeter, except that an initial drop fee may be assessed for the first mile so that the taximeter reflects the authorized rate.
(b) A passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added to the metered or flat rate of fare.
(c) Waiting time: $.30 for each one minute of waiting time or fraction thereof, except for transportation fares involving Kentucky Medical Assistance Program recipients, for whom no waiting time shall be charged.
(d) Any other charges or tolls to enter or leave any passenger terminals, to use cross roads or bridges or pick up or discharge passengers at public facilities, shall be borne by the passenger(s) in addition to the metered rate of fare. Flat rate fares cannot add any additional charges.
(4) Airport rates: For all trips originating at the Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport and having a destination other than a private residence, the maximum rate of fare shall be the metered fare plus all fees, tolls, or charges assessed by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority plus a surcharge of $1.50. Fees for waiting time may be added, as they are to all taxi metered fares. If the metered fare plus all additional charges except for waiting time is less than $8.65 $12.00, a maximum minimum flat rate of $8.65 $12.00 may be charged.
(5) Downtown/airport flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $17 $21.55 for fares between Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport and downtown, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
(6) Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center/downtown flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $20.00 for fares between Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center and downtown, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
(7) Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center/airport flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $8 for fares between the Kentucky Exposition Center and Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
(6)(8) Taxicab and disabled persons vehicle drivers shall be required to take the shortest and most reasonable routes for all fares unless instructed by the passenger to do otherwise.
(7)(9) Drivers shall be required to transport all Kentucky Medical Assistance Program voucher passengers directly to and from the scheduled medical appointment, and shall not deviate nor detour from the shortest available route, nor make any additional stops, even if requested to do so by the passenger.
(10) (a) The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge to be added to the Taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $2.50 $4.00 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association's published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest $.05 will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $2.50 $4.00 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association's published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $2.50 $4.00 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
(b) The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge, which will be in addition to the surcharges in subsection (8)(10)(a), above, to be added to the taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $3.50 $4.50 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association's published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest five cents will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $3.50 $4.50 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association's published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $3.50 $4.50 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
(c) The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge, which will be in addition to the surcharges in subsections (8) (10)(a) and (8)(10)(b), above, to be added to the taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $3.50 $5.00 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association's published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest five cents will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $3.50 $5.00 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association's published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $3.50 $5.00 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
SECTION II: This Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and approval or otherwise becoming law.
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______________________________ Sonya Harward Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David James President of the Council |
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_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
By: ____________________________
O-139-22 - Rates of Fare Changes v.2 - 4-13-22-mhh