BART fares increase 6.2% on January 1, 2026, to help pay for service

BART fares will increase January 1, 2026, to keep pace with inflation so the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART's current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations, and fares continue to be an important funding source to meet the needs of riders who rely on BART and to attract new riders.  

Fares will increase 6.2 % on New Year’s Day based upon actual inflation in 2023 and 2024. The average fare will increase $0.30, from $4.88 to $5.18. For a short trip like Downtown Berkeley to 19th St./Oakland, the regular fare will increase by $0.15, and for a longer trip, such as the 45-mile journey between Antioch to Montgomery, it’s a $0.55 increase.  

The fare increase is expected to raise $15.6 million for Calendar Year 2026.  

BART's fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/26 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2026 date for their trip. 

BART is also changing parking prices effective January 1, 2026.  

Outdated funding model 

BART needs a reliable, long-term source of operating funding. The agency’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations, an outdated model that is no longer feasible due to remote work. Even with the fare increase, BART faces a deficit of $376 million in FY27. The agency must modernize its funding sources to better align with other transit systems in the country that receive larger amounts of public funding.  

“As we ask the region for greater investments and support for BART while also making internal cuts to reduce costs, we also must ask our riders to contribute more towards their trips,” said BART Board President Mark Foley. “We will continue our commitment to enhance efficiencies and implement strict cost controls.”  

BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, demonstrating we have held the line on spending, and BART balanced the FY26 budget with $35 million in ongoing cuts and strict cost controls. In the FY27 budget which begins July 1, 2026, BART will institute cost savings and deferrals of $108 million to maintain current service levels and produce a balanced budget. In addition, we are running shorter trains to save millions of dollars on energy costs, and our service schedule better matches ridership. We have implemented a strategic hiring freeze, targeted reductions to operating costs across departments, renegotiated with unions to reduce near-term retiree healthcare costs, and locked in low energy costs through long-term contracts. 

BART embraces independent oversight 

A recent review by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) found BART is meeting standards in nearly two dozen categories, including financial management, its ability to utilize federal grants, and project implementation. BART is also subject to review by the independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG conducts performance audits and investigates allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse. BART has accepted 92% of the OIG’s recommendations and already implemented 64%. BART is the only transit agency in the Bay Area with an OIG.  

BART is improving and innovating 

BART has seen progress in its efforts to improve the customer experience. In 2025, customer satisfaction increased to 88%; the number of riders who say they’ve witnessed fare evasion dropped by more than 50%; and crimes against persons on BART dropped by 59%. This year BART also installed new fare gates systemwide four months early and was the first transit agency in the Bay Area to roll out Tap and Ride, offering contactless bank card payment options.    

BART offers the following fare discount programs:  

  • Low-income adults earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level get 50% off through the regional Clipper START program.  
  • Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card. Children four years and younger ride free.  
  • Seniors 65 and over get 62.5% off with a Senior Clipper card.  
  • The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off.  
  • BART offers a “High-value Discount.” Adult Clipper cards get a 6.25% discount on cash value rides by buying $48 worth of value for $45 or $64 worth of value for $60 when autoload is set up with your registered Clipper card.  
  • Monthly “A” Adult Fast Pass + BART within San Francisco: Unlimited rides on all Muni vehicles and on BART within San Francisco (trips outside of these stations are charged full fare). Available for sale from the 17th of the prior month through the 16th of the month. 
  • Students on a school-sponsored field trip for an educational purpose are eligible for a 62.5% discount fare when purchased in advance through Group Sales. 
  • The Next Generation of Clipper offers automatic transfer discounts beginning as soon as December 10, 2025. Riders will receive a discount of up to the highest local single ride fare on Clipper, currently $2.85, when transferring between agencies. The discount will be automatically applied to an unlimited number of transfers within 120 minutes of the first tap.