Fact Sheet JUNE 2020 Background Key Elements For most Bay Area households, transportation ELIGIBILITY is the third-largest monthly expense—trailing • Adults age 19-64 who have a household only the cost of housing and food. In 2015, income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Level (approximately $52,000 per year for (MTC) launched a study to determine if a transit a family of four) can qualify for the Clipper reduced fare program based on household START discount. income would be feasible and efective. • Applicants will need to provide proof of As a result of the study and in consultation with eligibility in the form of copies of EBT cards, transit agencies, the Commission approved the Medi-Cal cards or tax returns. launch of a regional low-income transit fare • Participants must also live in the 9-county pilot in May 2018. The program is called Clipper San Francisco Bay Area. START. AVAILABLE ON CLIPPER About the Pilot Pilot program participants will be mailed a The Clipper START pilot program is designed Clipper card to receive the Clipper START to make transit more afordable for low-income discount. residents, move toward a more consistent SINGLE-RIDE DISCOUNT regional standard for fare discounts, and be Clipper START pilot participants will receive financially viable and administratively feasible. discounts on single rides on participating MTC and BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit agencies. Participants riding Muni, Caltrain, and SFMTA are working with community-based and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry will receive organizations and social service and public a 50% discount. Participants riding BART will health sectors in the design, implementation receive a 20% discount. and evaluation of this pilot. Timeline of the Pilot MTC is making available an estimated $11 million The Clipper START pilot program will launch on in funding for administrative costs and to July 15, 2020. The pilot program will continue defray some of the operators’ revenue losses. for 12 to 18 months, during which time the MTC’s contribution comes from State Transit results will be evaluated. Once the evaluation is Assistance funds through Senate Bill 1. complete, MTC and the participating agencies will make a decision about whether or not to continue the program. Participating Agencies Fact Sheet JUNE 2020 What is the discount called? How do I apply for the discount? The means-based transit fare discount pilot Eligible participants will be able to apply program is called Clipper START. through a website or with a mailed or faxed paper application. When will the discount be available? The discount pilot program will launch on July In what languages will the application 15, 2020. Approved applicants will have cards in be available? hand within 30 days. The application will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog. What kind of discount will be ofered? Muni, Caltrain, and Golden Gate Transit and How can people find out more about Ferry will ofer a 50% discount to eligible the discount and how to apply? participants. BART will ofer a 20% discount. The participating agencies will be working (The Golden Gate Transit and Ferry discount with social service and public health agencies will not be available within Zones 2, 3 & 4; on as well as community-based organizations to “Early Bird” East Bay fares; or on Oracle Park & let people know about the program when it Chase Center special event ferry service). becomes available. Information also will be available on a program-specific website. Look How will participants receive the for announcements on clippercard.com. discount? Once their eligibility is verified, participants How long will this program be will be mailed a special Clipper card to use to available? receive the discount. This Clipper card will The discount will be ofered for 12 to 18 months show their name and will look like a regular beginning in July 2020. Clipper card. Who are the sponsors of Clipper What if I have a pass given to me START? by a social service program, such as The Metropolitan Transportation Commission Lifeline? and the participating transit agencies have The discount will only apply to fares paid on joined together to ofer this discount on a single rides, including transfers, but not with pilot basis. passes. You can still buy and use passes, but they will not be eligible for the discount. How can I find out more about Clipper START? Who is eligible to participate? Visit the website at clipperstartcard.com Adults who have a household income of starting July 15 or email clipperstart@ up to 200% of the federal poverty level bayareametro.gov. (approximately $52,000 a year for a family of four) will be eligible..