Collective Taxi Rates Will Go Up Again in 2011

(Acapulco, JG 7 January) After last year’s 20% increase from $10 to $12, collective taxis will start charging $13 pesos, another 8% increase. The tariff hike is not scheduled to take effect until August of this year, and the taxi syndicates argue that the one-peso increase is justified by price increases in gasoline, tires and maintenance. Last year, gasoline prices rose by 13.5% on average. In an average shift, a “colectivo” driver will use around 32 liters of fuel, costing about $320 pesos, or half the gross receipts from six round trips with a full taxi, to and from the suburbs. Each round trip takes approximately 1.5 hours under good traffic conditions.

At the same time, the city buses on the Maxitunel routes will start charging $5.50 pesos, a 10% increase from the current fare of $5 pesos. The increase from $4.5 to $5 went into effect barely a year ago. Naturally, all other buses will quickly follow suit.