A Bronx man was arrested Monday in connection to the fatal shooting of a livery cab driver.

Police say Charles McDowell, 22, was charged with second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Authorities believe he is the gunman who shot livery cab driver Amadou Ndiaye two weeks ago, at Wilson Avenue and Boston Road in Williamsbridge.

Police said McDowell was caught in connection with another crime, but was quickly connected to the driver's murder.

"He was arrested early this morning, he tried to commit a robbery - I don't have the particular circumstances - but in his possession was a .25 caliber firearm," said NYPD Inspector David Colon. "We do what's called 'guntraces' and it matched up to the same one that was used in the homicide up on Boston Road."

The arrest came as taxi advocates relaunched "Operation Safe Cab" Monday, a surveillance program that they hope will protect the lives of livery cab drivers, following a string of fatal attacks on those behind the wheel.

The program allows police to randomly stop livery cabs with special decals and search potentially-dangerous passengers in an effort to keep drivers safe. Underground policemen will also drive livery cabs, enabling them to catch would-be criminals.

More than 600 drivers signed up Monday for Operation Safe Cab, which has been a joint effort between the New York City Police Department and the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers since 1994.

Fernando Mateo, the head of the Federation of Taxi Drivers, said the move is necessary and welcomed in the industry.

"The drivers today feel very unsafe when they go out in the evenings. What the police are doing is settle the unsettlement," said Mateo.

Ndiaye was working the night shift in the Bronx, trying to make some money to send to his family back in Senegal. Drivers know the danger all too well.

"The person attacked me with a gun and took my money," said driver Aboud Alassene.

"I know a lot of Africans who stop driving at nighttime, but in this industry the money is at nighttime, which is the most dangerous time," said Mamadou Kane of the African Livery Drivers Association.

Kane said besides more surveillance, there needs to be more punishments for those who harm cab drivers.

"Stickers will help, big time, but I just really don't think it's enough," said Mamadou Kane of the African Livery Drivers Association. "What will be enough in this case, the law enforcement, lawmakers, we need to get in touch with them. The people who are killing the cab driver, they must be punished at the maximum, not let them get away with anything."

Kane said, however, that Operation Safe Cab once saved his life from a rogue passenger.

"I was shaking after they got a gun off the guy," said Kane.

The announcement followed the recent spate of violence against the city's livery cab drivers.

A driver in Yonkers Sunday became the fourth driver killed during a robbery this year.

Last week, Jose Pena-Seguira, 42, was shot in car during a robbery attempt in Mott Haven, Bronx.