Hopkins Chief Urges Ace Taxi for Exclusive Contract

Ace's bid to become the exclusive taxi management company at Hopkins includes a fleet of 2006 vans and Crown Victoria sedans and a guarantee of at least $1.3 million for the airport each year.

Smith said he plans to ask City Council to approve a five-year contract with Ace soon so that shiny new taxis can begin shuttling passengers from the airport by Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Council's Aviation and Transportation Committee could begin reviewing the proposal next week, said Chairman Kevin Kelley.

The plan to hire one company to manage taxi service has been controversial since Smith proposed it over the summer.

Small, minority-owned cab companies in town, particularly those employing Somali drivers, say they will go out of business if they can't pick up passengers at Hopkins.

Smith said the city desperately needs to improve poor cab service at Hopkins, and having a single company managing the fleet is the best way to do that.

He said Ace plans to recruit the most experienced drivers from all seven cab companies working at Hopkins.

He said two other companies bid: Yellow Cab and Americab. Both are in Cleveland.

Brian McBride, owner of Yellow Cab, said he expected to win the contract.

"I'm shocked we weren't chosen," McBride said. "We're the best operator in town."

A committee of managers at the airport recommended Ace, in part, because it uses global positioning technology to help drivers find their way around.

Taxi passengers frequently complain about drivers who get lost.

Ace is the only bidder certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Smith said.

The federal government requires that 40 percent of the revenue-generating contracts at U.S. airports be awarded to companies certified as disadvantaged businesses, Smith said.

Disadvantaged businesses are owned by, or employ, minorities or other disadvantaged workers.

Under the proposed contract, Ace would:

*Guarantee the airport $1.3 million or $2.50 per trip annually, whichever is greater. Smith said cabs make about 500 trips a week from Hopkins.

*Equip its cabs with global positioning systems to help cabbies reach their destinations.

*Make interpreters available for drivers and passengers

Smith said passengers would pay a 50-cent per-trip surcharge under the proposal. The money would be used to staff a taxi dispatch stand at Hopkins.

He also said he will ask council for authority to raise cab fares, within limits, without seeking council approval for each increase.

Smith said he doesn't anticipate any immediate fare hikes for airport taxis beyond the 50-cent surcharge.

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