MONROE - An after-hours Safe Ride home, sponsored by the Tavern League of South Central Wisconsin and the City of Monroe, could be operating in the city by as early as April 4, after approval by the Common Council.
According to the proposal submitted to the city, the program is designed to offer rides home to tavern customers who do not feel comfortable driving or who should not be driving, in the judgment of the tavern, from the establishment to their destination.
Tavern owners had been requesting the cab service, and the city's Finance and Taxation Committee was a "driving factor" in getting the proposal in front of the Common Council for approval, according to Carol Stamm, City Clerk. The council is expected to consider the proposal April 2.
Cost to riders for the nighttime service will be a bit higher - $5 for a ride, compared to $3 during the daytime.
Brown Cab, Inc., operating as Monroe Taxi, would provide the service between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and on New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving eve. Monroe Taxi will accept all calls made up until 2:30 a.m., closing time for the taverns in Monroe, and will assure that anyone who has made a call prior to or at that time shall receive a Safe Ride.
The cab company plans to operate in its current service area of the City of Monroe and up to one mile outside the city limits. Rides originating outside the city limits will have an additional $2 surcharge.
To provide the service, Monroe Taxi will use its regular taxi fleet, including taxi sedans and accessible vehicles for those who require them.
The Tavern League received grant funding to begin operating the safe-ride program. After applying riders' charges and the tavern league's grant contribution of about $2,500, the cost to the city for 2014 is expected to be about $6,300.
For 2015 and beyond, the additional hours are expected to be included in the city's application for taxi cab funding through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which contributes about 59 percent of the operating expenses.
Monroe Taxi currently operates Monday through Saturday in the city, closing at 10 p.m. each day, with the last calls taken at approximately 9:30 p.m. The program receives funding through the city, the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The hourly rate charged by Brown Cab to the City of Monroe in 2014 is $23.52. Stamm said, with federal and state grants and riders' fares, the taxi service in the city usually "breaks even," so tax revenue is not needed.
According to the proposal submitted to the city, the program is designed to offer rides home to tavern customers who do not feel comfortable driving or who should not be driving, in the judgment of the tavern, from the establishment to their destination.
Tavern owners had been requesting the cab service, and the city's Finance and Taxation Committee was a "driving factor" in getting the proposal in front of the Common Council for approval, according to Carol Stamm, City Clerk. The council is expected to consider the proposal April 2.
Cost to riders for the nighttime service will be a bit higher - $5 for a ride, compared to $3 during the daytime.
Brown Cab, Inc., operating as Monroe Taxi, would provide the service between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and on New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving eve. Monroe Taxi will accept all calls made up until 2:30 a.m., closing time for the taverns in Monroe, and will assure that anyone who has made a call prior to or at that time shall receive a Safe Ride.
The cab company plans to operate in its current service area of the City of Monroe and up to one mile outside the city limits. Rides originating outside the city limits will have an additional $2 surcharge.
To provide the service, Monroe Taxi will use its regular taxi fleet, including taxi sedans and accessible vehicles for those who require them.
The Tavern League received grant funding to begin operating the safe-ride program. After applying riders' charges and the tavern league's grant contribution of about $2,500, the cost to the city for 2014 is expected to be about $6,300.
For 2015 and beyond, the additional hours are expected to be included in the city's application for taxi cab funding through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which contributes about 59 percent of the operating expenses.
Monroe Taxi currently operates Monday through Saturday in the city, closing at 10 p.m. each day, with the last calls taken at approximately 9:30 p.m. The program receives funding through the city, the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The hourly rate charged by Brown Cab to the City of Monroe in 2014 is $23.52. Stamm said, with federal and state grants and riders' fares, the taxi service in the city usually "breaks even," so tax revenue is not needed.