The city's two taxi companies have asked the city's permission to increase the rates they are allowed to charge customers.

The proposal would increase the cost of shorter trips by about 25 percent. For example, the cost of traveling a mile in a cab would jump from $3.45 to $4.35. The increase in costs of longer rides would be less - jumping from $11.85 to $13.95 for a five-mile trip, for example, an increase of 9 percent.

The last cab rate hike in Haverhill was in 2001. The request will be presented at tonight's City Council meeting by the owners of Family Cab Co. and Courtesy Cab. They say the price of gasoline and other operating expenses is forcing them to seek the increase.

A memo from the companies shows that according to the Consumer Price Index, the value of the dollar has dipped, while the cost of gas has jumped from about $1.55 a gallon in 2001 to nearly $3 in recent months.

Under council rules, the members cannot vote on the proposal for at least 10 days. Tonight's meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Cabs are often used by the elderly who take taxis to the grocery store or the doctors because they do not have their own vehicles or a driver's license.

Human Services Director Vincent Ouellette, who runs the Citizens Center which has many elder activities, said that last year 145 Haverhill senior citizens took advantage of a city program that provides vouchers for cab fare. Under that program, low-income elders are given taxi coupons worth between $25 and $50, Ouellette said.

"I'm sure our seniors won't like seeing the rates go up, but the way the cost of fuel has been going up, it's going to affect everyone," he said.

The taxi company owners are also asking to increase the "waiting fee" from $15 per hour to $20 per hour. That fee is charged when the taxi driver has to wait for a customer, for instance, while the customer is inside a store or if the customer is late to the pick-up location. The waiting fee is pro-rated, meaning the charge to wait 15 minutes would be $5.

Family Cab Co., 21 White St., operates four cabs, and Courtesy Cab, 22 Hilldale Ave., has five cars in its fleet, City Clerk Peggy Toomey said.

PG1 BOX

Haverhill taxi cab rates*

$2.25 for the first 3/7 mile

$30 cents for each additional 1/7 mile

$15 per hour waiting fee, if drivers have to wait for a customer before, during or after pick-up

*Set in April 2001

Proposed rate increase

$2.25 for the first 1/8 of a mile

30 cents for each additional 1/8 mile

$20 per hour waiting fee, if a driver has to wait for a customer before, during or after pick-up