North Bay transit tap-and-ride payment set to launch

North Bay transportation operators are entering a new era of fare payment.
Starting Dec. 10, Marin Transit, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry will transition to a tap-and-ride system that enables riders to pay for fare with credit cards, debit cards and mobile wallets, in addition to Clipper cards.
Bay Area Rapid Transit was the first to use the system, starting as a test pilot over the summer. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is now launching the upgrade, designed to make it faster and easier to pay across transit providers who accept Clipper in the nine-county Bay Area. New perks for Clipper card users are also coming.
“Seamless fare payments for public transit make our entire network more accessible to everyone and easier to experience for new riders,” said Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan, who serves on boards governing SMART, the Transportation Authority of Marin and Marin Transit. “If you can tap your phone to buy a coffee or groceries, you should be able to do the same to hop on a bus or ride SMART.”
Riders who use bank cards to pay will be able to take advantage of the new free- and discounted-transfer program — with a discount of up to $2.85. The discount will be applied to trips on any additional transit agency within two hours of boarding the first transit agency, said John Goodwin, an MTC spokesperson.
“Key point to keep in mind is that those who use a bank card will be charged the full adult fare,” Goodwin said. “So students, seniors and people with disabilities who already have a Clipper discount card are advised to keep using their existing cards.”
Also beginning Dec. 10, customers will be able to apply online for discounted Clipper cards. Applications currently are accepted only in person or via mail, Goodwin said.
Almost 5 million Clipper cards are in circulation, with about 1.3 million unique cards used each month, Goodwin said.
New benefits for Clipper card users will come as MTC rolls out the Clipper 2.0, cloud-based system, over an eight- to 12-week period starting the same day as the tap-and-ride launch. Improvements include discounted interagency transfers, the ability to instantly add and use value on a Clipper card, and the ability for families to manage multiple accounts through an app.
Discount cards — offered for youths and seniors, people with disabilities and low-income riders —will be upgraded to Clipper 2.0 first. All remaining Clipper users are expected to be upgraded by March, officials said.
Customers who want to get a jump on the upgrade can do so by logging onto the Clipper website, using the Clipper mobile app or calling the Clipper customer service center, Goodwin said. Information is at clippercard.com.
One of the biggest perks for Marin Transit riders who use Clipper is that they will no longer have to tap off to end their trip, said Nancy Whelan, general manager of the agency.
Under the existing system, Marin Transit and Golden Gate are combined, so if riders don’t tap as they exit, they might be charged the maximum regional fare of $10 rather than the correct $1.80 fare for a local ride. Riders must still tap on and off on Golden Gate Transit regional routes, Whelan said.
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit riders are also still required to tap off to end their trip, said Heather McKillop, SMART’s chief financial officer.
Another benefit of the upgrade is the Marin Local 31-Day pass can be added to the Clipper card. These passes are good for unlimited local rides on both Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit in Marin County. The pass is activated on the day it is first used and is valid for 31 days after activation, Whelan said.
“We have been waiting a long time for this update to take place,” Whelan said. “It will let more Marin County riders use Clipper without the fear of being overcharged for not tapping off when they get off the bus. Clipper riders will get discounted fares and discounted or free transfers, making their money go farther for the transit service they use.”
Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which manages the bus and ferry services, said the agency is working with MTC to provide marketing materials to inform riders of the change.
“We’re thrilled that Clipper is rolling out new, faster, and more convenient ways for our customers to pay transit fares, manage their accounts, and access discounts,” Cosulich-Schwartz said. “We look forward to sharing more information with our customers about how to access the benefits of next generation Clipper over the coming weeks.”