Riding That Red Taxi Just Got More Expensive

Taxi fares go up today by 12 percent. The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) last week approved a 12 percent, ¢50 ($.09) raise requested by the National Federation of Taxi Cooperatives, bringing the cost of entering a “flota roja” (red fleet) taxi to ¢470 ($.85), up from 420. Each additional kilometer will now cost ¢430 ($.78).

Every six months taxi fares can be reevaluated to adjust for inflation, according to ARESEP. The last adjustment to taxi fares was in April, when prices rose 3 percent.

Two weeks ago, ARESEP rejected a 10 percent fare hike request by Taxis Unidos, the orange taxis that serve San José’s JuanSantamaríaInternationalAirport. Taxis Unidos has an exclusive contract to park at the airport’s exit, but ARESEP would not approve a fare hike because some of the taxis lack meters and charge customers fees determined in advance.