CLE ANNOUNCES NEXT STEP IN IMPROVING OUTBOUND TAXI SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS

 

Cleveland, May 23, 2007 – A new model proposing three taxi companies work in unison to provide service to CLE passengers is designed to improve

customer service and enhance non-airline revenue for the airport. This proposal comes after much discussion and review with the bidders, Airport

staff and members of Cleveland City Council.

 

Under the new model, Standard Parking, which currently manages all parking facilities for the airport, would act as the management company for

the outbound taxi service that would be awarded jointly to Ace, Yellow, and Americab. The proposal calls for Ace to operate 35 taxis at the airport, Yellow to operate 25 and Americab to operate 15.

 

“This new model will help position the Airport for the future by increasing non-airline revenue, providing more efficient and customer-friendly taxi

service and raising the standard at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” said Airport Director Ricky Smith. “This is one of the many steps we

are taking to position CLE as the economic engine for the City of Cleveland and the region.”

 

"The cooperative atmosphere surrounding discussions of the future of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport made it possible for a decision to be

reached that was in the best interest of the City of Cleveland and its visitors," said Council President Martin J. Sweeney. "We look forward to continuing

this positive relationship with the Administration as we work together to improve customer service at Cleveland Hopkins and to make Cleveland a

destination of choice for travelers."

 

This proposal will be recommended to the City’s Board of Control, which oversees the letting of contracts. Legislation would be required to amend the

existing contract with Standard Parking to allow the company to take on the new responsibilities.

 

- 30 -

Cleveland Hopkins Airport taxi stand opens Monday

Posted by Susan Vinella July 29, 2007 11:11AM

Categories: Breaking News, Impact

 

Passengers arriving at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will find cabs at a new stand near the Continental Airlines baggage claim area starting Monday.

 

Cabs will pick up travelers in a covered area at the south end of the terminal, just beyond Continental's baggage claim carousels and next to a new customer lounge. Passengers now hail cabs on the north end, near the entrance to the airport.

 

The change is meant to make taxi service more efficient and more convenient for the 65 percent of Hopkins travelers who fly on Continental, which operates a hub here.

 

The taxi stand is part of a controversial overhaul of cab service proposed by airport director Ricky Smith.

Click for larger image (pdf).

 

In March, the chairman of City Council's Aviation and Transportation Committee accused Smith of violating city law by building the taxi queue without council approval.

 

Smith said the work, including a new the installation of wrought-iron fence, lights, sliding glass doors and curbs, was routine and did not require the council's approval.

 

Smith's overall plan to revamp taxi service at Hopkins has been approved by the City Council. By Thanksgiving, the airport expects to limit the number of taxis to 75 and require that they all look alike.

 

Standard Parking, which manages the parking lots and garages at Hopkins, will oversee the operation. Three local companies -- Yellow Cab, Americab and Ace Taxi -- will provide cabs and drivers.

 

Drivers and owners of the city's four other taxi companies have complained that Smith's plan is too exclusive and would put them out of business. Some also say it discriminates against the small, minority-owned companies that employ Somali drivers.

 

Passengers and city officials have complained about the glut of cabs at Hopkins and poor service from some drivers.

 

Smith has said a reduced number of cabs and new standards should eliminate these problems and help raise money for the airport.

 

The airport will receive a cut of taxi fares under the new plan. City officials have not said whether that means fares will go up.

 

pd:

 

Cleveland taxi group plans protest strike

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Robert L. Smith and Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

The head of a local taxi drivers group said its members will strike Wednesday morning at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to protest their exclusion from a new taxi service plan.

 

Darlene Everett, a driver for USA Taxi and president of the newly formed Professional Taxi Driver's Association, said her group's members will picket at Hopkins and will refuse to pick up passengers between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesday.

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 216-999-4024

What the heck was that last sentence in there? Talk about disconnected stories!! Interesting.

Yes, i was thrown off by that as well.

But we should hear some new news tomorrow, eh?

 

pd:

 

City, airport officials trim Hopkins-approved cab companies to three

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Four local cab companies got a call from Cleveland officials late Monday with this message: Don't show up at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to pick up passengers anymore.

 

The directive, which will be enforced starting today, is part of the airport's new plan to reduce the number of taxis at Hopkins and improve service.

 

Well, what do you know.... the Cleveland Plain Dealer gives a nod to public transit.  :clap:

 

Cheaper alternatives at Hopkins

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

 

Don't want to pay higher taxi fares next month at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport? Here are some cheaper alternatives:

 

Take the rapid-transit train. The RTA Red Line runs between Hopkins and Tower City Center downtown. One-way fare is $1.75. Trains run to the eastern suburbs from there.

 

Park at Hopkins. Pay $7 to $10 per day in the economy long-term garages and lots.

 

Park elsewhere. Three parking companies on nearby Snow Road (www.parkonsnow.com) have joined to offer discounted rates and a shuttle to Hopkins. Park Place has an Internet special of $7.50 a day. Other coupons are available on the Web site.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1192005466234330.xml&coll=2

 

© 2007 The Plain Dealer

 

And now the bad news if you have to take a cab:

 

Taxicab costs to soar under new exclusive deals at Hopkins

Downtown? Expect to pay an extra $15

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Be prepared to pay a lot more for a cab ride from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport starting next month.

 

Just before Thanksgiving, when new white taxis with an airport logo are expected to arrive, a 13-mile trip from the airport to downtown will cost $44 - about $15 more than it costs now.

 

 

[email protected], 216-999-5010 [/b] [/i]

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1192005577234330.xml&coll=2

$44??? that is freaking unreal for a 15 minute ride. Other than certain times in NYC (depending what airport, time of day, destination), I don't think I have ever paid that much to travel such a short time from an airport to center city.  I hope people will take advantage of the rta. Of course as I have mentioned we have during inclement weather or late at night grabbed a cab rather than walk from redline/TC to our home (about 3/4 mile) and the cabbies are so rude. they see us walk out of TC with luggage and are opening bitter and  livid we are not going to the airport. Same with a pick up from the house to go to the red line. I cannot imagine what kind of impression this gives to visitors. that and the total attitude for any short run. I know musky has some good connections, but I would only use them for longer rides (which we  rarely take).

I am still available, for a price. :wink:

$44 is literally highway robbery. Better take the train.

$44??? that is freaking unreal for a 15 minute ride. Other than certain times in NYC (depending what airport, time of day, destination), I don't think I have ever paid that much to travel such a short time from an airport to center city.  I hope people will take advantage of the rta. Of course as I have mentioned we have during inclement weather or late at night grabbed a cab rather than walk from redline/TC to our home (about 3/4 mile) and the cabbies are so rude. they see us walk out of TC with luggage and are opening bitter and  livid we are not going to the airport. Same with a pick up from the house to go to the red line. I cannot imagine what kind of impression this gives to visitors. that and the total attitude for any short run. I know musky has some good connections, but I would only use them for longer rides (which we  rarely take).

 

I think the price is about $10 dollars too much, I think $30-$40 would be appropriate.  Folks please remember, most of the people paying for taxis are business travellers and will put this on an expense account. If this is going to streamline and improve service for travellers coming from the airport and part of the fare is going back into the airport, I'm all for it.

 

Any "road warrior" will not think much of this.  Cleveland is NOT the first airport to institute this, most airports have a "set rate" from the airport to the Center City/CBD.  Just off the top of my head here are some city omparisons.

 

All NYC area airports have been doing this for years

New Orleans (and they even have some stupid per bag/per person surcharge on top of the set rate)

 

Vegas (its not that expensive considering the airport is damn near on the strip but they have surcharge fever)

 

Midway (I know its $29 to the loop)

 

San Francisco (has zones AND some rule that if you travel X miles away from the airport, you're charged and additional  100 or 150% of the metered rate)  How about that?!  :-o

 

IAD (more zones and in order to determine the fare you need to be a calc major.  The last time I arrived at dulles it was $90 bucks for a taxi to the district)

 

DFW (my last trip it was $42 plus some surcharges)

 

MIA (has these "zones", to south beach its $35, plus that toll);

 

DCA (another airport with "zone" pricing and its $15 to the city, but its just across the water).

 

Baltimore (where our new airport director is from, has some SKY HIGH rates.  To Baltimore its $40 and once we were diverted to BWI and it was late and didn't want to take the train, the fare to DC it was $105.)

 

LAX (has set cabs company's that can pick you up at the airport and prices vary depending on where you're going. From LAX to my house (west los angeles) it's $50-60.

 

Detroit (to our offices is $40)

 

Boston (to downtown its approximately $25, plus an airport toll and a tunnell toll)

 

Atlanta (I don't know the rate from the airpot but I know they have zones.  If you take a taxi in downtown or midtown Atlanta to any destination in downtown or midtown it $8 plus a $2 surcharge for an additional person, not including tip.  talk about a rip off.)

 

This is not aimed at you Peabody, but I knew the "average" traveler reading this on cleveland.com would be up in arms and start complaining about another "charge" or "tax" here in Cleveland.

 

$44 is literally highway robbery. Better take the train.

Hopefully, this will encourage students, leisure travellers, and those on budgets to use public transportation.

I should have clarified "leisure" visitors, b/c that is what I meant. I agree the business traveler traveling on the company time won't care.

Unless it's their business, and a small one at that.

BREAKING NEWS........

 

 

TAXI COMPANIES SUE CITY

TO STOP AIRPORT CAB PLAN

 

Suit charges breach of contract,

discrimination and other violations

 

WHAT:          News conference announcing a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland; Ricky D. Smith, director of port control; and Bill Mullins, airport ground transportation manager.

 

WHY:              Owners of four taxi companies were excluded from picking up passengers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Tuesday, so they are asking Common Pleas Court to stop the city of Cleveland from restricting cab service. About 250 jobs are at stake.

 

                      The lawsuit says the plan is in breach of the four taxi companies’ contracts with the city, discriminates against the first generation immigrants who own the four companies and denies them due process in the way the plan was implemented.

 

WHEN:          4 p.m. - Thursday October 11, 2007

 

WHERE:        Law offices of Friedman & Gilbert, Room 1700 Standard Building, 1370 Ontario St.

 

WHO:            Attorney Gordon S. Friedman and owners of ABC Taxi, Airport Taxi, USA Taxi and United Cab Co.

 

EDITORS:    A copy of the complaint is at http://download.yousendit.com/7F9375415515AFBF

^If the main driver for Cleveland making the decision it did about the airport taxicabs was the fact that poor service was being provided (like refusals to take passengers to places like Berea, Brook Park, and Lakewood), then shouldn't the taxi cab companies have done something to make the service they provide better instead of taking this route of suing after Cleveland has made its decision?

"Shouldn't the taxi cab companies have done something to make the service they provide better instead of taking this route of suing after Cleveland has made its decision?"

 

You heretic! How dare you suggest such common sense! ;-)

 

No, this is the typical lazy-@ss response - don't do anything for your job security (or even do your job) until your job is actually in jeopardy. Screw 'em, I say.

Worse, they're claiming that the city didn't give the airport taxi contracts to them because they're new immigrants.

IIRC, all the cab companies were invited to submit proposals earlier in the year.

An interesting cab story from a driver in Cleveland...he was telling us how the real bread and butter was to get the people that have been partying all night and need a ride far away...to Akron, Toledo, Youngstown and even Detroit!  He said that it's not that uncommon once a month to get someone that wants to go to a casino in Detroit at 2:00 am.  He showed me the whole chart of flat fares they have to those places.  I think Detroit was $800.

The furthest fare I had was to a suburb of Philadelphia. Since it was "off the clock," I only charged $550.

Geez, I don't even think the short-hop, sell-your-first-born, rape-your-sister commuter airlines charge that much for flights to Detroit or Philadelphia.

 

Wouldn't it cost less to get a hotel here and catch a flight the next day (let alone a bus, or rent a car one-way w/ the drop-off charge)? There's also an Amtrak train that leaves Cleveland just after 2 a.m. for Toledo (and Chicago) and you can transfer at Toledo's train station for a bus to two stops in Greater Detroit (Dearborn Amtrak Station and Detroit Woodward Ave. Amtrak station).

 

Now I know why I quit drinking. Booze makes you do incredibly moronic things.

Sometimes people want door-to-door service and they have to leave RIGHT NOW!

All NYC area airports have been doing this for years

 

 

Incorrect, JFK has set rate, but LaGuardia is metered.  See below.  I think Newark has as set rate to midtown, and metered in Jersey.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rate.shtml

 

An interesting cab story from a driver in Cleveland...he was telling us how the real bread and butter was to get the people that have been partying all night and need a ride far away...to Akron, Toledo, Youngstown and even Detroit!  He said that it's not that uncommon once a month to get someone that wants to go to a casino in Detroit at 2:00 am.  He showed me the whole chart of flat fares they have to those places.  I think Detroit was $800.

 

they're getting robbed, I got 150 from toledo to cleveland.

 

don't ask.

All NYC area airports have been doing this for years

 

 

Incorrect, JFK has set rate, but LaGuardia is metered.  See below.  I think Newark has as set rate to midtown, and metered in Jersey.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rate.shtml

 

LG is def metered, I have had rates all over the place to lower Manhattan.The public transportation route isn't bad though

pd:

 

Mayor Jackson wants to limit Hopkins airport taxi fare increase

Mayor orders review of Hopkins taxi plan with hefty rate hikes

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Mayor Frank Jackson has scrapped whopper fare increases proposed for taxis out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

 

Jackson ordered airport chief Ricky Smith to abandon a plan that would have boosted a ride downtown from $28 to more than $40 and to come up with cheaper, more-justifiable fares, officials said Monday.

 

 

[email protected], 216-999-5405

 

Good lord, make up your mind already.  Rick, I love you for thinking outside the box and forcing parts of our city government to move up to 2007 standards, but you and your staff need to better coordinate with the media.

it seems that part of the problem is that these airport cabs can't pick up fares back to the airport, so they are pricing that into the equation.

 

i think they should be able to work out a system where some of the cabs could wait at designated stands for traffic back to the airport, not exclusively, but closer to the current metered rate in both directions seems to work out better for everyone than $44 for a round trip.

The anybody catch the reply to the editoriol on 19 Action News (Its the only Cle station in Col, That's the only reason I watch)

 

Anyway the respondent was pissed about Taxi fare heights. She suggested that everybody take RTA trains and buses to starve the Taxi cab drivers of fares. She ended with this quote: "Ride the train, so we don't get railroaded by the taxi cab companies."

Did not catch it. But it is ignorant to blame the companies. (19 Action News at their best)

The fares are set by the city, not the cab companies.

Did not catch it. But it is ignorant to blame the companies. (19 Action News at their best)

The fares are set by the city, not the cab companies.

 

True, but atleast RTA got some free press.

Cleveland proposes new taxi rates

Posted by Henry J. Gomez October 18, 2007 21:00PM

Categories: Impact

 

Link to graphic:  http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10/19CGTAXI.pdf

 

 

Most cab fares at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will rise next month -- but not nearly as much as originally planned.

Instead of $44 for a ride downtown, travelers will pay about $33. The trip now costs about $28 under a metered fare system that airport chief Ricky Smith wants to replace around Thanksgiving.

 

Other rides also will cost less than what officials at the city-run airport reported last week. Many will be just a few bucks more than they are today.

 

 

A hearing in the case has been set for Nov. 13 in U.S. District Court in Youngstown.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10/cleveland_proposes_new_taxi_ra.html

cleveland.com:

 

Judge rules against Hopkins cab plan

Posted by Henry Gomez November 20, 2007 14:35PM

Categories: Top Story

 

A federal court in Youngstown has dealt a blow to Cleveland's controversial taxi plans at Hopkins International Airport.

 

U.S. District Judge Peter Economus ruled that four cab companies are likely to prevail with their lawsuit, which challenges a contract that gives three competitors exclusive rights to pick up passengers at the airport.

 

pd:

 

Taxi drivers, Cleveland still at odds

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Youngstown- At a court-ordered meeting here Tuesday, Cleveland officials and owners of four taxi companies failed to resolve their dispute over the city's controversial new cab service at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

 

That leaves U.S. District Judge Peter Economus to decide the fate of the plan, which the city unveiled last month with the aim of bringing new cabs and more professional drivers to the airport.

 

 

[email protected], 216-999-5405

Cleveland OKs temporary extra $1 for taxi gas costs

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Henry J. Gomez and Gabriel Baird

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Cleveland City Council on Monday approved higher cab fares to help taxi drivers cope with higher gas prices.

 

A temporary, $1-per-ride increase should take effect this week, said Councilman Kevin Kelley, who chairs the council's Aviation and Transportation Committee.

 

The council plans to re-evaluate the rates in coming months.

 

 

[email protected], 216-999-5405

 

[email protected], 216-999-5833

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1213086688319390.xml&coll=2

 

they need to allow folks to hail a Taxi anywhere in the city.

they need to allow folks to hail a Taxi anywhere in the city.

 

I agree, the taxi situation is crap in the Clev.

they need to allow folks to hail a Taxi anywhere in the city.

 

I agree, the taxi situation is crap in the Clev.

 

Slow your role their, young buck.  It's far worse in other cities.  Atleast we have taxi's.

they need to allow folks to hail a Taxi anywhere in the city.

 

I agree, the taxi situation is crap in the Clev.

 

Slow your role their, young buck. It's far worse in other cities. Atleast we have taxi's.

Agreed. It's not exactly new york or chicago where taxi's are practically fighting over you... but MOST places are way way worse than what we have.  I'd love to know what ever happened to the notion of taxi stands downtown which I think would go a long way towards greatly improving service.

they need to allow folks to hail a Taxi anywhere in the city.

 

it is my understanding after reading the city taxi regulations that you are allowed to hail a cab anywhere in the city, but cabs can't cruise looking for pickups - they have to be coming from a drop off and going to a designated taxi stand area (which there are a number of downtown on the street, in front of hotels, etc.)

 

so, in practice, it isn't that hard to hail a cab downtown as they are usually going toward a pickup area.

downtown isn't the problem.

 

Most of us know that if we need a cab quickly, head to the nearest hotel or Tower City.

 

But what if I'm in China Town?  I have few otpions.

Perhaps as gas prices rise and more people leave their cars at home, we should allow cab drivers to cruise for fares citywide. That would be a convenient option for people waiting at bus stops in the rain and snow....

Couldn't find an appropriate thread for this. There is a Taxi thread but its over 4 yrs since the last post. If a mod wants to move this there, here you go>>>>  http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10540.175.html

 

New cab company adds jobs & safe transportation in Cleveland

 

Written by Maureen Kyle

 

 

CLEVELAND -- A new cab company is starting up in Cleveland, bringing jobs and safe transportation to the city. Wolley Cab owners could have picked any city in the U.S., but thought Cleveland had the most potential.

 

"We love Cleveland. Cleveland is like a quiet city. Chicago is really crowded," says Tom Ali.

 

Tired of the congested streets of the Windy City, Ali and the owners of Wolley Cab company, the Ibrahim family , set their sights on Cleveland -- a growing city in need of their services.

 

More at. >>>>> http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/271364/16/New-cab-company-adds-jobs--safe-transportation-in-Cleveland

 

 

 

Are those the orange-colored cabs? I saw a caravan of those heading west of Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood last week and wondered what that was all about. I think this ^ was it.

^Likely.  There were a bunch of orange cabs sitting in the parking lot of Burke Airport for about a week.  I assumed they were sold to a company in NYC who lost cabs in the hurricane and were being staged there for transport, but you know what happens when you assume...

Yeah they are Orange in Chicago.  Wolley, is Yellow spelled backward btw

Yeah they are Orange in Chicago.  Wolley, is Yellow spelled backward btw

 

Such revelc people

Yeah they are Orange in Chicago.  Wolley, is Yellow spelled backward btw

 

Such revelc people

 

Oh dog

Couldn't find an appropriate thread for this. There is a Taxi thread but its over 4 yrs since the last post. If a mod wants to move this there, here you go>>>>  http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10540.175.html

 

New cab company adds jobs & safe transportation in Cleveland

 

Written by Maureen Kyle

 

 

CLEVELAND -- A new cab company is starting up in Cleveland, bringing jobs and safe transportation to the city. Wolley Cab owners could have picked any city in the U.S., but thought Cleveland had the most potential.

 

"We love Cleveland. Cleveland is like a quiet city. Chicago is really crowded," says Tom Ali.

 

Tired of the congested streets of the Windy City, Ali and the owners of Wolley Cab company, the Ibrahim family , set their sights on Cleveland -- a growing city in need of their services.

 

More at. >>>>> http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/271364/16/New-cab-company-adds-jobs--safe-transportation-in-Cleveland

I like to read the words "Cleveland is a growing city" it's refreshing. :)

Couldn't find an appropriate thread for this. There is a Taxi thread but its over 4 yrs since the last post. If a mod wants to move this there, here you go>>>>  http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10540.175.html

 

New cab company adds jobs & safe transportation in Cleveland

 

Written by Maureen Kyle

 

 

CLEVELAND -- A new cab company is starting up in Cleveland, bringing jobs and safe transportation to the city. Wolley Cab owners could have picked any city in the U.S., but thought Cleveland had the most potential.

 

"We love Cleveland. Cleveland is like a quiet city. Chicago is really crowded," says Tom Ali.

 

Tired of the congested streets of the Windy City, Ali and the owners of Wolley Cab company, the Ibrahim family , set their sights on Cleveland -- a growing city in need of their services.

 

More at. >>>>> http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/271364/16/New-cab-company-adds-jobs--safe-transportation-in-Cleveland

I like to read the words "Cleveland is a growing city" it's refreshing. :)

 

It certainly is, but given the nature of his business I take it with a grain of salt.  I could also see them moving into a market with lower-paid immigrant workers and competing for market share.  I seem to remember hearing the same out of Cleveland hacks when "Ace" came around to compete in the market.