Below inflation fare increase starting Jan 1, 2016 dedicated to improvements
BART’s inflation-based fare increase program is set to slightly raise the price of trips by 3.4% starting on January 1, 2016 in order to help pay for high-priority improvement projects riders will benefit from.
Since 2003, BART has only increased fares using a formula set below the inflation rate – a method which offers a predictable model for customers. In 2013, the Board of Directors voted to dedicate all the money from these small, biennial fare increases to BART’s top priority projects: new train cars, a new train control system, and a new maintenance facility in Hayward.
For example, a one-way trip in 2015 between Daly City and Powell Street Station today costs $3.15 – starting in January it will increase to $3.25. A Fremont to Embarcadero trip will increase from $5.95 to $6.15. Airport travelers will see a similar small increase – a one-way trip between San Francisco International Airport and Walnut Creek will increase from $10.40 to $10.75.
To view upcoming cash and discount fares, plan any trip on or after Jan. 1, 2016 in the BART QuickPlanner. Note that the Fare Calculator page does not include a date range – therefore, the only way to see upcoming fares before January 1, is to use the QuickPlanner. Alternatively, refer to the new 2016 BART fare chart below.
The Bay Area continues to grow at a rapid rate, which puts unique demands on BART’s system and will likely continue to do so in the future. However, a growing region means public transportation remains one of the most cost effective and efficient options for getting from point A to point B. BART’s goal is to meet the needs of Bay Area commuters, travelers, and tourists – and the best way to serve these needs is to focus on the Big 3 capital improvement projects. These projects will increase passenger capacity with new and greatly improved train cars, increase the number and frequency of trains on the track during rush hour, and increase the reliability of the system as a whole.
The more people ride public transportation, the fewer cars will be sitting in traffic polluting the air and clogging our highways.