The number of taxicabs in the Las Vegas Valley will grow by about 5 percent later this summer, the Nevada Taxicab Authority decided Tuesday despite cabdrivers' claims that there was already a glut of cabs in Southern Nevada.

The authority's board unanimously sided with cab company owners who argued that a lack of cabs was causing tourists to instead choose limousines, shuttle buses and mass transit to get around town.

And authorities also expressed concern whether the number of cabs on hand will keep pace with growth in valley population and tourism.

"I'm predicating that (vote) on the growth factor. Projected growth for the next year and five years is staggering," said Horacio Lopez, the board's vice chairman. "Other modes of transportation are cutting into the cab industry."

The board's ruling means each of the valley's 16 cab companies will be able to add five regular cabs and one paratransit cab to their fleets, for a total of up to 176 new cabs. The valley is currently served by about 1,600 full-time cabs.

Owners had asked for 10 or more new cabs per company; driver labor union officials had asked for no new cabs at all.

Some drivers argued that an influx of cabs would hurt their incomes by forcing more drivers to chase the same number of customers, and that any periodic cab shortfalls were due to traffic congestion and a lack of cab access at hotels, McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Convention Center, rather than a lack of cabs.

"We can't get to where the fares are," said Karla Hiropolous, a driver for Checker Cab Co. and an official with the Industrial Technical Professional Employees union, the valley's largest labor representative of cabbies.

"You can't just throw cabs out on the Strip. Where will they go? How will they get through the congestion?" Hiropolous said.

But cab owners said there's an unmet demand for cabs by people who grow weary of waiting for a cab and turn to other modes of travel.

"It's because they have no other choice," said Ray Chenoweth, owner of Nellis Cab Co. "Curb service is slim to none, and if you're off the Strip, forget about it."

"If these cabs are on the roads, the passengers will come back to us," said Cheryl Knapp, general manager of Whittlesea Bell Transportation. "It is not about how much money the cab company makes, or whether the cabdrivers are making enough money. It's about serving the public."

But Ruthie Jones, the union's local vice president, said the issues of public service and driver support are linked.

"If you can't recruit and retain quality drivers, who will drive the cabs?" Jones said. "If you fail to consider the drivers, you might as well close up shop."

"We don't need cabs. What we do need is respect," said Frank Lucero, a driver for Henderson Taxi and columnist for Trip Sheet, an industry magazine. "For the board to even consider adding more cabs is disrespecting all cabdrivers who are working hard to make a small amount of money."

The board also has yet to consider a request from owners and managers at Nellis and Desert to operate a 17th valley cab company, tentatively named City Cab Co.