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Citizens Advisory Council urges SFMTA to keep taxi upfront fares within 10% of taximeter rates
Summary
The SFMTA Citizens Advisory Council passed a motion urging the board to require that app‑based upfront fares for taxis remain within 10% of regulated taximeter fares to prevent exploitative disparities and preserve a buffer for taxi drivers.
The SFMTA Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) told the agency’s board on March 20 that it supports maintaining a regulatory buffer requiring upfront app‑based taxi fares to be within 10 percent of metered taxi fares.
CAC Chair Aaron Leifer read the group’s motion aloud at the board meeting and told directors the council had heard input from members of the taxi industry who said an upfront‑fare buffer helps protect drivers from unregulated price spikes and preserves a regulated baseline for customers.
“The current regulated system has been in place for decades to provide reasonable charges to customers and fare rates of return for taxi drivers,” Leifer read, adding that the council’s motion was unanimous.
Board members noted the item and asked staff to return with any operational implications. The CAC motion is advisory; it does not change ordinance on its own but communicates the council’s recommendation to the SFMTA board and staff as they continue a taxi fare pilot and broader analysis of for‑hire vehicle pricing models.
The CAC and taxi representatives said they plan to continue follow‑up with SFMTA staff as the pilot progresses and the agency monitors customer and driver outcomes.
