More cabs authorized to deal with New Year’s, conventions

Monday, Dec. 22, 2003 | 10:57 a.m.

Additional taxicabs will be allowed on Southern Nevada roads for about half of January to accommodate the big crowds expected to be in town, the Nevada Taxicab Authority decided.

Yvette Moore, administrator for the government entity that regulates taxis in Clark County, said additional cabs were authorized at a recent board meeting for the New Year's holiday weekend as well as for the January conventions of the International Consumer Electronics Show and the National Association of Home Builders.

The board allowed the county's 16 cab companies an additional five cabs each from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Dec. 30, an additional five cabs each from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 20 cabs each from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on New Year's Eve, and an additional five cabs each from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Jan. 1 through Jan. 4.

For CES, which is expected to draw 115,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the board authorized 10 additional cabs per company Jan. 7, up to 13 additional cabs per company Jan. 8 through Jan. 10, and an additional 10 cabs per company Jan. 11.

For the NAHB show, which is expected to attract 92,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the board approved two additional cabs per company at various times for the duration of the convention, Jan. 19 through Jan. 21.

The Taxicab Authority routinely authorizes additional cabs during large conventions.

Bill Shranko, operations manager for Yellow-Checker-Star, the city's largest taxi company, said the authorization wasn't controversial with cab drivers, who generally oppose cab fleet expansions, because the increases are only temporary.

In October, the Taxicab Authority allowed cab companies to expand their fleets by three vehicles apiece plus an additional five each on weekends on a temporary basis, putting about 2,600 cabs on the city's streets.