Albany

It's a common gripe among taxi passengers: They never know how much their next ride will cost.

The Capital District Transportation Authority plans to change that. Starting next month, it will ask six area municipalities to approve an ordinance authorizing a new regional taxi system. Among the changes will be standardized fares, and eventually meters and credit card readers in cabs as well as a mobile payment system.

CDTA's proposal comes after the state Legislature gave it and similar entities around New York the authority to regulate regional taxi service.

Getting the approval for the changes the authority wants to make is the next step. Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Rensselaer and Colonie will be asked to OK the ordinance.

"Once this is done, we will introduce a regional fare structure and better ways for it to be communicated, displayed and paid for by customers," CDTA CEO Carm Basile told the authority's board at its meeting Wednesday.

"This includes meters in cabs, credit card readers and a mobile payment system," Basile added.

Taxi cab owners would be required to purchase a medallion for each cab, although a price hasn't been determined.

CDTA spokeswoman Jaime Watson said cab owners and the municipalities have been kept in the loop as the plan was developed, and all are supportive.

One big change would be the removal of geographic barriers that in many cases walled off certain towns or cities from broader service. Instead, the taxi closest to a customer seeking a ride would be dispatched regardless of its home base. That should mean a quicker response when calling for a cab.

The arrival of ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft over the summer gave an added push to the regional taxi reform effort.

Taxi operators "knew things have to change," Watson said.

CDTA hopes to have the six localities on board within the next two months. Once that's done, the fare structure will be established, something that Watson characterized as "the biggest hurdle."

But with standard fares in place, customers will finally know what their next ride will cost.