BART expanding Clipper-only sales at stations systemwide through 2020

BART has successfully transitioned all stations to offer Clipper as the only fare product available for purchase. Systemwide conversion was fully completed the week of December 7, 2020. Find details about the transition here. See below for information about the conversion schedule.

The section below was originally posted on July 20, 2020 and updated weekly as stations were converted to Clipper-only sales

BART is accelerating its expansion of the number of stations where Clipper is the only fare product available for purchase. BART has been eliminating the sales of paper tickets since August of 2019 when a 4-station pilot program was launched. One or more stations will be converted each week throughout 2020. A schedule of upcoming stations to be transitioned and a table showing station conversion completion dates are posted below. 

This effort is part of BART's 15-Step Plan to welcome riders back to a more contactless experience in the era of COVID-19.

Touchless Experience

As shelter-in-place orders begin to lift, and customers return to the system, BART is working to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Using Clipper helps this effort by allowing riders to avoid direct contact with fare gates, as the card only needs to be held over the fare gate card reader without touching. Riders can further protect themselves from contact with fare machines by loading funds onto their Clipper card online, allowing up to one day for the balance to post. For registered users, the Autoload feature will automatically replenish their Clipper balance.

While paper tickets will no longer be available for purchase at these stations, riders will still be able to use paper tickets to enter or exit through fare gates.  Riders will also be able to add enough fare to a paper ticket to exit the station using add fare machines located inside the paid area.

Clipper Benefits

BART is also moving to a Clipper-only fare payment system because the region has prioritized the use of Clipper as the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. In addition to being contactless, Clipper has many advantages over paper tickets:

• Clipper saves money. Adult paper tickets have a 50 cents surcharge on every trip, which equals $1.00 per round trip. With a one-time acquisition fee of $3.00 for a Clipper card, it pays for itself in just 3 roundtrips.
• Clipper is reusable and long-lasting, unlike paper tickets that get worn and tattered.
• Clipper is accepted by nearly all transit agencies in the region. Many other agencies offer discounted fares when using Clipper.
• Riders can set up their Clipper card account to reload automatically
• The loaded value on the Clipper card is secure when it’s registered. If you lose the card, the balance can be replaced for a nominal fee.
• The tag in and out system allows Clipper card users to move through fare gates faster.
• Clipper cards can be purchased at every BART station and at many retail outlets throughout the region.
• Paper tickets can jam our fare gates, so Clipper usage means more open fare gates, shorter lines and less fare gate maintenance.
• Clipper usage reduces the paper waste of the magstripe tickets in the BART system.

Customers can use Clipper anonymously. Clipper cards do not require registration. Registration is required for added benefits such as Autoload and balance protection.
To get Clipper online, find in-person locations, or details about obtaining a discount card for Senior, Disabled or Youth 18 and under, please go to www.clippercard.com

For more information, visit bart.gov/clipper

Schedule for station transition to Clipper-only sales:

The following stations will be converted in October:

• Week of October 5     Bay Fair Station
• Week of October 5     San Leandro Station
• Week of October 5     Fruitvale Station
• Week of October 12   Lake Merritt Station
• Week of October 19   Richmond Station
• Week of October 26   El Cerrito Del Norte Station

The following stations will be converted in November:

• Week of November 2     El Cerrito Plaza Station
• Week of November 9     North Berkeley Station
• Week of November 9     Ashby Station
• Week of November 16   Daly City Station
• Week of November 23   Colma Station
• Week of November 23   South San Francisco Station
• Week of November 23   San Bruno Station
• Week of November 30   Millbrae Station

The following stations will be converted in December:

• Week of December 7    Castro Valley Station
• Week of December 7    West Dublin/Pleasanton Station

Station Conversion Chronological List: 

This table will be updated as station transitions to Clipper-only sales are completed.

Pittsburg Center and Antioch stations opened in May 2018 with Clipper-only sales, as did Milpitas and Berryessa/North San José stations in June 2020. 

Parking

BART is also accelerating efforts to convert to touchless parking payments and eliminate use of paper-based methods of parking payment.  As of October 13, 2020, paper tickets are no longer accepted for parking payment in the BART District. Riders may pay for parking using cash or the official BART app which has a feature that allows contactless parking payments for all stations that offer parking. Riders can also use the EZ Rider program or purchase parking permits from Select-a-Spot.com

Previously, customers could purchase a paper ticket with enough value for their fare and parking payment, and use the ticket to pay for parking at Addfare machines inside the fare gates. BART is ending the sales of paper tickets as part of converting machines to accept Clipper-only cards. 

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The section below was originally posted in June 30, 2020

Four more BART stations will transition to Clipper-only sales in July as part of the accelerated expansion of the number of stations where Clipper is the only fare product available for purchase. BART has been eliminating the sales of paper tickets since August of 2019.

BART will schedule the stations each month. The following stations will be converted in July:

• Week of July 6        Civic Center Station
• Week of July 13      16^th St./Mission Station
• Week of July 20      24^th St./Mission Station 
• Week of July 27      Glen Park Station

The news article below was originally posted on June 2, 2020:

Starting the week of June 8, BART will accelerate its expansion of the number of stations where Clipper is the only fare product available for purchase. Since August of 2019, BART has eliminated the sales of paper tickets at five stations (19^th Street/Oakland, Embarcadero, Powell Street, Downtown Berkeley and San Francisco International Airport).

Accelerating this effort is part of BART's 15-Step Plan to welcome riders back and will help to create a more contactless rider experience in the era of COVID-19.

At stations with parking, one ticket machine will be available for customers who opt to purchase a paper ticket to pay for parking. BART is also working to accelerate efforts to expand the official BART app parking payment feature to all stations (currently available at 5 stations) to offer contactless parking payments.

BART will schedule the stations each month and update the schedule here monthy. The following stations will be converted in June:

• Week of June 8       Dublin/Pleasanton Station
• Week of June 15     Coliseum and Oakland International Airport stations
• Week of June 22     Montgomery Street Station 
• Week of June 29     Civic Center Station

Touchless Experience

As shelter-in-place orders begin to lift, and customers return to the system, BART is working to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Using Clipper helps this effort by allowing riders to avoid direct contact with fare gates, as the card only needs to be held over the fare gate card reader without touching. Riders can further protect themselves from contact with fare machines by loading funds onto their Clipper card online, allowing up to one day for the balance to post. For registered users, the Autoload feature will automatically replenish their Clipper balance.

While paper tickets will no longer be available for purchase at these stations, riders will still be able to use paper tickets to enter or exit through fare gates.  Riders will also be able to add enough fare to a paper ticket to exit the station using add fare machines located inside the paid area.

Clipper Benefits

BART is also moving to a Clipper-only fare payment system because the region has prioritized the use of Clipper as the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. In addition to being contactless, Clipper has many advantages over paper tickets:

• Clipper saves money. Adult paper tickets have a 50 cents surcharge on every trip, which equals $1.00 per round trip. With a one-time acquisition fee of $3.00 for a Clipper card, it pays for itself in just 3 roundtrips.
• Clipper is reusable and long-lasting, unlike paper tickets that get worn and tattered.
• Clipper is accepted by nearly all transit agencies in the region. Many other agencies offer discounted fares when using Clipper.
• Riders can set up their Clipper card account to reload automatically
• The loaded value on the Clipper card is secure when it’s registered. If you lose the card, the balance can be replaced for a nominal fee.
• The tag in and out system allows Clipper card users to move through fare gates faster.
• Clipper cards can be purchased at every BART station and at many retail outlets throughout the region.
• Paper tickets can jam our fare gates, so Clipper usage means more open fare gates, shorter lines and less fare gate maintenance.
• Clipper usage reduces the paper waste of the magstripe tickets in the BART system.

Customers can use Clipper anonymously. Clipper cards do not require registration. Registration is required for added benefits such as Autoload and balance protection.
To get Clipper online, find in-person locations, or details about obtaining a discount card for Senior, Disabled or Youth 18 and under, please go to www.clippercard.com

For more information, visit bart.gov/clipper