Mount Airy, NC - The owners of two cab companies are not happy about the city offer transportation to the public.
That's because the shuttle service will be subsidized by tax payers and the rate could drive them out of business.
Cut Rate Cabs & Granite City Cabs companies said the city will offer the shuttle for $1.00 to riders. Cab owners are not opposed to riders getting a deal, but they would like to part of the solution.
"I would like be subsidized me and I'll haul the customers for a dollar that would be wonderful," said Peggy Dowdy, owner of Cut Rates Cabs.
What's going on? The Yadkin Valley Economic Development District, Inc., known as YVEDDI is seeking approval from city officials in Mount Airy for federal transportation funds. If they get the money, they plan to use it to expand some public transportation routes and times.
YVEDDI has funding from a Federal grant that would allow whoever gets the grant to transport people at a subsidized rate - $1 per trip.
The targeted areas are: Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties have un-met transportation needs.
Taxi cab owners are adamant that if the city gives the green light to YVEDDI, they could see a whole lot of red.
"We make it on people...this will kill us. We are hanging on by a thread now...And if that happened that would push us over the edge and there would be no cab service expect for in Winston-Salem," said Dowdy.
YVEDDI provided this statement to WFMY News 2 about the proposal: "Our target group for the circulator would be citizens that typically do not use the taxi services because of the cost."
Click here to read entire statement
Mount Airy city council is scheduled to vote on the issue at its next meeting which is Thursday, August 2nd.
WFMY News 2