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Panel Works on Fixing Rates for Rides to, from Portland, Ore., Airport

Posted on: Thursday, 11 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

Sep. 11--By Thanksgiving, passengers arriving at Portland International Airport could find themselves paying clearly defined rates for cabs, executive cars and shuttles for trips to downtown or the Lloyd Center area.

A city regulatory panel adopted two-thirds of the plan Wednesday and is expected to add the final element next month after an airport consultant finishes a ground transportation study on shuttles.

Flat rates for executive cars running between downtown and the airport would be $45 under the new system. Cabs would still charge metered rates, which generally fall between $26 and $30 for airport runs between those locations.

The Private For Hire Transportation Review Board considered setting shuttle rates at $8 a trip but held off until the ground transportation study is finished late this month.

Some shuttle operators told the board they couldn't operate successfully on $8 per fare and would prefer the $12 to $15 range. They also said current airport regulations don't allow shuttles long enough waiting times to collect several passengers for a single trip.

The fare system is meant to help consumers make informed decisions about ground transportation.

The system also is intended to cut down on rogue sedan and shuttle drivers who use cut rates to take business from taxis and executive car companies whose owners comply with city regulations on insurance and licensing.

Gloria Coon, an owner of Executive Transportation, said rogue drivers have cost taxis and "legitimate" town car companies hundreds of thousands of dollars since she entered the business in 1997. She said her current rate between the airport and downtown is $43. "I have no problem with $45," she said.

Coon also said she hoped the fare system would eliminate the practice of some hotel employees accepting payments from town car drivers in return for arranging airport trips.

"We believe this is a good move for viable companies," said Raye Miles, general manager of Broadway Cab, who chaired a committee that presented the fare proposal. "We believe that legitimate shuttle operators are also paying the price of rogue shuttles."

The rate system is intended to establish significant differences in price for differing levels of service. Shuttles are designed to carry several passengers at once and make several stops to deliver passengers.

But Dawn Huddleston, who represents the Port of Portland on the transportation review board, said current airport procedures often limit shuttles to one passenger. She said the Port, which owns and operates the airport, would like to establish a fair playing field for shuttle companies and inform passengers.

The board hopes to set rates for shuttles at its Oct. 8 meeting.

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(c) 2003, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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