Expensive taxi toll fees on CityLink to be overhauled next year

As average tolls on CityLink are finally scrapped, taxi passengers are set to pay less for trips from next year. See how much you will save.

Taxi passengers will save as much as $4 on trips via CityLink from next year when expensive average tolls are finally scrapped.

A flat $6.40 charge is currently added to taxi meters when passengers are taken along any part of the western or southern section of CityLink — or $8.45 if their trip involves both sections of the road.

But from next July, taxi passengers will pay the same tolls as private vehicles, with the charges added automatically during their travel rather than whacked on to the final price.

Taxi passengers will no longer pay expensive average toll fees on CityLink next year. Picture: David Caird

It means a trip which uses CityLink between Racecourse Rd and Dynon Rd or Toorak Rd and Burnley St will only incur a $2.52 toll.

The flat taxi tolls were initially set because meters could not automatically calculate what parts of CityLink were used during trips.

Most taxi drivers will now be able to shift to the new system by completing a software update to their meter, while some vehicle owners with older devices will need to replace them with newer models.

A state government spokeswoman said: “When taxis adopt this new technology, passengers will have greater visibility about the cost of their trips.”

“We’re working closely with the taxi industry to make sure they have the information they need to adopt this technology, which will make paying for travel on CityLink easier to understand,” she said.

The toll for a taxi trip from Toorak Rd to Swan St will now cost $4.09, while passengers going from Racecourse Rd to Power St will be charged an extra $5.67.

Tolls for private vehicle trips are currently capped at $9.45.

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Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria has been working with the taxi industry to pave the way for the new toll charge system to be introduced from July 1 next year.

Further information will also be made available for customers by then, replacing the stickers in taxis which currently display the flat toll fee arrangement.

The savings come as passengers face a price surge at Melbourne Airport, where the ground access charge for taxis at Tullamarine ranks was lifted this month from $3.65 to $4.50.

The Sunday Herald Sun also revealed last month that leading cab company 13 Cabs wanted taxi fares to automatically rise 2 per cent every year.

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