BART renews program of free tickets for military personnel returning from active combat

BART will once again offer free transit tickets to certain military personnel who are on leave or returning from active combat in dangerous war zones. The BART Board of Directors voted to allow staff to work with existing organizations to distribute $50 BART tickets to 600 qualified military personnel.

“We’ve given out 800 tickets to date with many Directors personally handing them out as troops come home,” says Julie Yim, Manager of the Customer Services Department, which administers the program.  “Not all of our troops are home yet, and we believe the additional 600 tickets will cover the remaining affected personnel.  It’s a small token of appreciation to recognize our troops who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us.” 

BART staff will work with established veterans’ organizations and other networks inclusive of minority, low-income, and limited English proficiency populations to ensure all affected military personnel will have access to the one-time free ticket.

To be eligible for the free $50 BART ticket, a military member must have recently returned (within six months) from active combat.  The returning soldier is required to show proof of active military service (a military identification card) and evidence of their leave from the war zone.

The renewed program starts in March 2014, and will last six months.