The owner-members of Norshore Cab Association, which for years has had the largest taxi fleet in Evanston, have voted to merge with 303 Taxi.
The Evanston Review reports that the Norshore members concluded that 303 offered better dispatch technology that should cut wait times for passengers.
Norshore had fought the arrival of then-Wilmette based 303 in Evanston three decades ago.
But in the years since, 303, now based in Chicago, has grown to a fleet of nearly 1,600 cabs across the metro area, including 44 licenses in Evanston, while Norshore has 65 here.
Under the merger deal, Norshore cabs will continue to carry their cream and red color scheme, but will be dispatched by 303.
This will be better for Evanston
The reality is Norshore Cab has not been dispatched locally since 2003 as when the company went to computer dispatch it contracted it out to Blue Cab in River Forest.
This should improve service to Evanston as 303 and Flash Cab in Chicago are the same owners. It should also mean the cabs are in better shape.
The cab industry in Evanston has a strange history. As recently as the late 80's the companies were segregated with Norshore being white and Best and Better cabs were all black.
Norshore then gradually shifted to more Pakistani and Indian drivers.
Truth is many drivers in the suburbs do so as they can not pass the Chicago exam.
Dispatch not the only problem for Norshore
This will only be better if Norshore improves their aging fleet. I personally do not and would not call Norshore for a taxi, because most of those vehicles look like they are going to fall apart. The appeal of 303 is that they appear to keep up with the maintenance and models of their fleet.
Many of the Norshore fleet
Many of the Norshore fleet were former police cars. You can imagine the beating they took before beoming taxis. This is true for many companies that run Ford Crown Vic's.