Taxicab industry in booming in LV

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 | 10:40 a.m.

The increase in tourist visits to Las Vegas in 1999 translated into a double-digit increase in the number of trips generated for Clark County cab drivers and an even greater increase in trip revenues.

The Nevada Taxicab Authority reported the number of taxi trips in 1999 increased 13.6 percent to 19.9 million from 17.5 million in 1998. Revenues from those trips increased 15.9 percent to $171.6 million in 1999 compared with $148.1 million in 1998.

Regulators approved a rate increase for cab drivers last month. Beginning March 1, passengers will pay 20 cents per one-eighth mile, up from the current rate of 30 cents per one-fifth mile, a net increase of 10 cents per mile.

Numbers were up in every other statistical category tracked by the Taxicab Authority. Trips per shift went from 22.8 in 1998 to 24.4 in 1999. Revenue per shift climbed from $190.95 to $211.13 and revenue per trip went from $8.47 in 1998 to $8.64 in 1999.

Cab companies saw revenue per medallion climb from $11.3 million in 1998 to $12.5 million in 1999 and trips per medallion went up from 1,340 to 1,442 during the same time frame.

Although 1999 numbers were strong, Mike Jones of the Industrial Technical Professional Employees Union, which represents cab drivers, said January statistics showed a "flattening out" of trips and revenues from January 1999. He urged the Taxicab Authority to consider that trend before deciding whether to allocate more medallions to cab companies.