BART bumps fares, paper ticket penalty for 2018

A New Year means higher fares for BART riders, especially for those who continue to use paper tickets in 2018.

First, beginning on Jan. 1, all fares, including discount fares, will increase by 2.7 percent as part of BART’s biennial standard inflation increase. The new minimum fare for Clipper card users will be $2 for adults, $1 for youth and 75 cents for seniors/disabled riders.

BART officials are encouraging riders to make the switch to Clipper because a 50-cent surcharge will go into effect on Jan. 1 for riders who buy a paper ticket from a vending machine. The BART Board of Directors approved the surcharge in June.

At least one vending machine at each station currently dispenses Clipper cards. Riders must pay a one-time fee of $3. BART expects to have a total of 100 Clipper card vending machines by the end of the year.

BART and Clipper are also hosting events to handout free Clipper cards for those who may have a hard time paying the $3 fee. The next two events are on Jan. 5, 2018 at the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Jan. 10, 2018 at Family Bridges from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Also beginning on Jan. 1., the age of the youth fare will increase to 18. Youth had previously been defined by the transit agency between the ages of 5 and 12. Youth will get a 50 percent discount off their fare using a Clipper card.