BART is appealing to riders to weigh-in via a survey on fare increases in 2024 and 2025 that it says will help it continue to provide “safe and reliable service.” The agency is also considering offering low-income Clipper START customers an increased discount of 50 percent—which is up from 20 percent, on Jan. 1, 2024. Customers can find the online survey here. BART began implementing its Board-Approved Inflation-Based Fare Increase Program in 2004, which institutes below-inflation, small fair adjustments intermittently over time. Amid “recent rapid inflation,” BART said the program’s formula “calls for a single 11.4 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2024.” The agency is looking to sidestep that larger, at-once increase by spreading it out over two smaller increases “of up to 5.5 percent each in 2024 and 2025.” The agency last increased fares by 3.4 percent on July 1, 2022. According to BART, it is also examining the possibility of offering larger discounts for Clipper START program riders, which is for adults with a household income that’s 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less. Again, the discount would increase from 20 percent per trip to 50 percent per trip. “Money from the fare increases will go towards our operating and capital budgets, funding train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence and capital projects such as purchasing new train cars,” said BART. Again, find the survey about BART’s scheduled fare increases through March 26 here. Those responding can enter to win a $50 Clipper card.

BART Board of Directors reinstates mask mandate

in Community

BART’s Board of Directors reinstated a mandate requiring riders to wear masks in paid areas of the transit system this morning. The rule is effective until July 18 unless it is extended.

Last week, BART joined other transit agencies in makin masks optional following a change in federal, state and local directives. The change in policy stemmed from a Florida judge’s decision to strike down the federal mask mandate for public transit.

At the time, BART officials warned that their Board of Directors may decide to reinstate the mask mandate, which indeed occurred at its meeting today. The official Board decision approves “a temporary amendment to the District’s Code of Conduct to require riders to wear masks,” the transit agency said.

“Free masks are available at station agent booths and from all safety staff for those who need one,” the transit agency said. “As with the previous federal mandate, BART PD will continue its education-based enforcement of the mask requirement by offering free masks to anyone who needs one before taking any enforcement action which could include a citation up to $75 or being ejected from the paid area.”