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Happy Pride Month from all of us at BART! 

BART gets very into the Pride spirit every year. Throughout the month, we'll be publishing more stories, walking in the San Francisco Pride Parade with the BARTmobile, and releasing new Pride merch. 

Speaking of merch...

BART's new 2024 Pride Tees are now listed for sale on Railgoods.com.

Terri is modeling the t-shirt above. More merch coming soon. 

Read about the history of BART's iconic Pride merch here. 

“I am large, I contain multitudes,” wrote the 19th-century queer poet Walt Whitman in his celebrated poem, Song of Myself.  

The famous line could not be more relevant when talking about Terri Hodges, BART’s Director of Risk and Insurance Management.  

She’s a multitudinous woman: a partner, dog mom, “insurance geek,” high-ranking manager, and an exceptional pool party hostess for her “gaybors” (gay + neighbors = gaybors). Add to the list: BART’s Director of Risk and Insurance Management.

The “song of herself” she returns to each Pride Month is Born This Way by Lady Gaga “because it’s not just inclusive of gay people, but so many others.” And to Terri, inclusivity and intersectionality are what Pride Month is all about.  

“The thing is, people think Pride Month is one month where everyone’s great to each other and celebratory,” she said. “But for me and my partner, it’s not just a month. That’s just how we live our life.” 

Besides her famous pool parties, Terri doesn’t do much out of the ordinary to celebrate Pride Month. 

“I celebrate my gayness by doing all the things people who aren’t gay do,” she said. “I love my house, I love my girl, I love my dog. I just celebrate people. It’s not about being gay or not gay, it’s about being a good person.”  

As you can imagine, Terri’s kindness-first approach makes her a much-loved manager at BART, where she’s worked for 29 years. One of her longtime colleagues, Liability Risk Analyst Steve Shatz, called Terri “a flexitarian: somebody who does what it takes to accommodate their employees.”

A photo from one of Terri and Patti’s ”gaybor” pool parties during Pride Month.  

Terri and Steve have worked together for nearly three decades. When they are not referring to each other as husband and wife – “I’ve known Terri longer than my real wife. There isn’t really anything about me that she doesn’t know,” Steve said – they call each other “Scabby.” It’s a long story for another article, but it’s illustrative of something key to Terri’s workplace disposition. The best kind of work relationship, she said, is one in which you can be honest and fun (and trust that everyone gets their work done). The other members of the Risk and Insurance Management team, Matt Goltaio and Tesia Bell, have nicknames, too. Sometimes they call each other hybrids of their real names –  just to keep the jovial camaraderie in play. 

“We kid with one another and have a very breezy relationship, while still being very professional,” Terri said of the close-knit team.  

The playful, inclusive environment at BART is quite different from the atmosphere at the insurance companies Terri worked for early in her career. Before coming to BART, Terri experienced frequent discriminatory behavior – things like people asking her if she was “really gay” or acting inappropriately at company functions.  

The Bay Area has long been a trailblazer in advocating and securing equal rights for all. But when Terri was growing up in Concord, she said “the mindset was different” than it is now.  

"When I was younger, it was either you’re gay or you’re straight. There was no in between. Even bisexuality was considered way out of the norm,” she said. Stringent categorization didn’t exactly work for Terri. She's someone who likes existing within the liminal spaces of human experience.  

“When I was younger, it wasn’t that I wasn’t secure with my sexuality, but I was very fluid in it,” she said. “I wasn’t always just gay. I’ve come out and gone back in. I’ve always liked people for who they are, not necessarily because of their gender.” 

A recent photo of Patti (left) and Terri (right). 

Growing up, Terri was fortunate to always feel safe and supported in her sexuality. She doesn't really have a “coming out story,” she said. The coming out just happened naturally.  

“When I first realized I liked women, I was in high school. My parents were like you have a boyfriend, though. And I was like, I want a girlfriend, too,” she said. “My parents didn't totally get it, but they said, if that makes you happy, that makes you happy. I feel so grateful to have that support system because I know many don’t.”  

That early encouragement had a lasting impact on Terri and her character.  

“What I bring to the table is inclusivity and understanding that not everyone has had the opportunity to be treated equally,” she said. “I hope to bring a level of kindness and understanding to people who have not always been given that luxury because of who they are, what their status is.” 

She continued: “Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and love. Not always respect, though. You have to earn that!”  

Terri has the right demeanor for the work she does. Balancing compassion with professionalism is crucial in her field. At face value, the group “is the least sexy department at BART,” Terri said. But there's more to it than meets the eye. The department thoroughly researches every claim that comes to BART guided by goals of fairness and protection of taxpayers and riders who fund BART. 

“Claim settlements come from taxpayer money,” Terri said. “I’m a taxpayer myself, and it is my fiduciary duty to make certain that if we owe it, we pay it, and if we don’t owe it, we don’t pay it.” For a time, she admits she was known as “Hell No Hodges.” 

One must strike a balance between BART’s fiduciary duty while thoughtfully holding space for the complicated emotions a person or family experiences after a crime or tragedy. BART is public, and anything can happen on public property. But as Terri says, “Just because it happened on BART doesn’t mean its our responsibility.”  

“We’re not an insurer of the public, we can’t afford to be,” Terri explained. “But we do have an obligation to approach each claim with kindness.”  

Patti and Terri at SF Pride 2015. 

The emotionally taxing work is made easier by the warm, accepting environment that has held sway at BART since Terri started working there almost three decades ago.  

“I have had the best experience at BART. I have never been an outcast for my sexuality. Everyone is unbelievably inclusive, and every manager has supported and advocated for me,” Terri said. “BART goes hard with Pride. We have the swag, the parade, the celebrations for employees. But we don't just celebrate Pride; we celebrate all diverse communities. And that’s not just because BART has to. There is a genuine warmth here. People can be who they are.” 

Terri is a woman of multitudes, but also contradictions. As an insurance professional, she is by default “risk averse" (“risk” is literally in her job title). But multiple times a year, Terri and her partner, Patti, go diving. Their dive trips have taken them from Hawaii to Belize, Mexico to Australia. 

“I’m risk averse yet I’m doing one of the riskiest things ever,” Terri laughed, admitting she usually swims down just about 50 feet, where she can still see the surface. She leaves the deep-sea thing to Patti. 

And soon, the couple will have a lot more time to dive. Terri plans to retire next year. She's already mentally preparing for the milestone that she knows will “be hard and sad.” 

“This is the place that has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally into the person I am,” Terri said. And that person is one who “says what I feel, means what I say, and tries to be as solid of a human as I can be – but sometimes in a weird way.”  

Congressmember Mark DeSaulnier, so often at the forefront of transportation improvements in Contra Costa County, helped commemorate the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all 12 BART stations in Contra Costa County with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station on May 29, 2025. The event marked a major milestone in BART’s systemwide plan aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility, and the overall rider experience. 

The Next Generation Fare Gates feature cutting-edge security and user-centered design elements, including enhanced reliability, better accessibility, and reduced fare evasion. With transparent barriers and faster processing technology, the new gates offer a seamless experience for all passengers, including those with mobility devices, strollers, and luggage. 

Congressmember DeSaulnier, who provided leadership for the BART to Antioch extension during his time in the state legislature, noted the importance of investing in the future of BART in Contra Costa County.  

"We know that these fare gates will make a tremendous impact for farebox recovery, safety, and the overall experience," Congressmember DeSaulnier said. "This is a significant project for the region, and I'm grateful to be a part of it."

This milestone was made possible thanks to critical funding contributions from partners such as the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), led by Executive Director Tim Haile. CCTA’s support underscored a strong regional commitment to modern, integrated transit solutions. 

BART Board President Mark Foley and Director Matt Rinn, who represents Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of updating aging infrastructure and restoring rider confidence. 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to showcase these fare gates, which are just one example of our new approach to safety and security on BART,” Rinn said. “Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station is a big part of the community, and I appreciate the opportunity to showcase the station and what it’s all about.” 

Metropolitan Transportation Commission chairperson Sue Noack, who is also the mayor of Pleasant Hill, noted the role of Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station in connecting the surrounding community to the region, providing convenient and easy access to places of employment, recreation, and services. New fare gates across the system are increasing paid ridership and improving customer safety. 

In his remarks, President and CEO of the East Bay Leadership Council Mark Orcutt stressed the importance of transportation to the region's economic well-being.

“The rollout of the Next Generation Fare Gates behind me represents something more than safety upgrades; it’s a strategic investment in regional economic competitiveness,” said Orcutt. “Transit moves people, and people move the economy. This is a visible step towards a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming experience for riders.”

As a BART rider, CCTA Commissioner and Contra Costa Supervisor Ken Carlson said he is "thrilled to have these new gates." 

“CCTA is committed not only to our local transportation system, but the regional system at large, and I applaud BART and the efforts they’ve made to build trust in the community and to make the system more efficient and secure," he said.

With the successful completion of the Contra Costa County installations, BART reaffirmed its commitment to completing fare gate upgrades at all 50 stations in the system by December 31, 2025. 

The installation of the new fare gates at Contra Costa County stations would not have been possible without the support of BART’s funding partners: 

The California Strategic Growth Council / California Housing and Community Development (HCD) 

Caltrans / California Transportation Commission

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority  

The Federal Transit Administration 

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission 

On June 19, 2025, Jasmine Gao reached a mediated pre-litigation settlement with Bay Area Rapid Transit regarding an officer-involved shooting by BART police officer Nicholas Poblete on November 18, 2024, in Union City.  The settlement is in the amount of $6.75 million. According to her attorneys, the shooting left Ms. Gao, 33 years old, with significant physical and emotional distress injuries.  About twelve hours after the shooting, BART Chief of Police Franklin made a public media statement based on the available information from the investigation at that time that included “the driver is alleged to have assaulted a police officer.” Having reviewed the body-worn camera footage, BART acknowledges that Ms. Gao did not assault the officers with a deadly weapon and that she was driving away when Poblete discharged his gun.

Officer Poblete responded to a report of a vehicle doing donuts. Ms. Gao was cleared of that possible crime shortly after the officers arrived, when an officer checked her tires and noted they were cold. The officers determined that Ms. Gao’s vehicle’s registration appeared to be expired. When Ms. Gao drove away from the officers Poblete fired.

BART acknowledges that when Ms. Gao drove away, no officer was being dragged or had any body part stuck in the window of her car when Poblete fired, and that no officer was otherwise endangered by the Ms. Gao’s driving of the vehicle. After completing an administrative investigation of the incident, BART issued a notice of intent to terminate Poblete. 

No criminal charges were filed against Ms. Gao. As part of the settlement, Ms. Gao, her attorneys John Burris and Ben Nisenbaum, BART and Chief Franklin agreed to a joint statement acknowledging the public statement issued the morning after the incident was not accurate. While it was alleged that Ms. Gao assaulted the officers with her vehicle and that was the reason for the shots being fired, the body-worn camera shows that allegation was not accurate. 

Ben Nisenbaum, an attorney for Ms. Gao, said “Ms. Gao was badly injured by a police shooting that was an unreasonable overreaction to a vehicle registration that had expired so recently that California law prevented police from taking any law enforcement action against her.”

Nisenbaum added: “Ms. Gao was shot in the back, and the bullet passed between her heart and a major artery. She nearly died. She was hospitalized and no longer has full mobility in her left arm.  Ms. Gao and her family recognize the importance of resolving this case expeditiously without filing a lawsuit. The acceptance of accountability by BART and Chief Franklin are significant factors in the settlement.”

BART’s Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost said, “Our priority is public trust. We immediately placed Nicholas Poblete on leave pending an independent investigation. We engaged Ms. Gao’s attorneys before a lawsuit was filed to work toward an early resolution that brings closure for Ms. Gao and her family while avoiding years of litigation. BART believes resolving this matter promptly is also in the best interest of our riders, employees, and the community.”

On Thursday, Dec. 7, BART launched a Digital Holiday Passport to encourage riding BART to explore the region and access holiday fun and adventures. Participants can win big prizes, including a $250 Clipper card and a 2023 Ugly Holiday Sweater and Holiday Beanie.  

BART created the Digital Holiday Passport in partnership with Vibemap, a city discovery app that uses “vibes” to connect users to places, events, and experiences. Vibemap will join BART at SweaterFest ‘23 on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2pm to 3pm, at Rockridge Station, to promote the challenge and answer questions. Members of the public who attend SweaterFest ‘23 will also be the first to receive the brand-new BART Stamp Passports for the BART Stamp Rally.  

The Digital Holiday Passport challenge will run from Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, to Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Seven stations will serve as check-in locations: 

• Downtown Berkeley  
• Fruitvale  
• Montgomery 
• MacArthur  
• Lake Merritt  
• West Dublin/Pleasanton  
• Walnut Creek 

To participate, download Vibemap on the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store. After downloading, travel within 0.5 miles of one of the seven stations listed above, and you’ll receive a notification to unlock the Digital Holiday Passport. The passport is geofenced so you can’t participate unless you’re physically in the area.   

Participants will earn “Challenge Points” for every nearby activity they do – from checking-in at stations and places around BART, to adding “vibes” and tips to the app. The more points you have, the higher your chances of winning prizes, such as: 

• $250 Clipper card 
• 2023 Ugly Holiday Sweater (Size Large), Holiday Beanie 
• $50 Clipper card
• $11 Clipper cards + BART swag bag 

After the challenge concludes, Vibemap will host an IRL event for participants to meet and mingle. Date and location TBD. At the event, you can get a special holiday stamp as part of the BART Stamp Rally.  

To learn more about the Digital BART Holiday Passport visit bartable.bart.gov/vibemap.  

(1/16/25 update)

The track shutdown and bus bridge that had been planned between Walnut Creek and Concord for Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 has been postponed. Instead, BART will offer our regular weekend service on both days.

BART will provide Saturday service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. Saturday service means BART will open at 6am and close at midnight and there is less frequency on the Yellow Line (service is every 20 minutes).

BART must replace decades old track components between Walnut Creek and Concord stations to ensure reliable service. To allow for the work to happen in the most efficient way possible as well as to provide safe conditions for workers, there will be no train service between Walnut Creek and Concord on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. Instead, riders will get off their train and take a free bus to move between Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre, and Concord stations. Riders can expect delays of 20 to 30 minutes in the work area on both Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. Work is not planned for Monday, January 20. 

BART will provide Saturday service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. Saturday service means BART will open at 6am and close at midnight and there is less frequency on the Yellow Line (service is every 20 minutes).

The project will also require the cancellation of some early morning and late night trains.

Saturday Morning:

• The first southbound trains departing Concord at 5:37am and 5:57am will be cancelled.
• Instead, the first southbound trains going to San Francisco will depart Walnut Creek at 5:45am, 6:05am, and 6:25am.
• To accommodate southbound passengers, buses will depart Concord at 5:23am, 5:43am, and 6:03am and Pleasant Hill at 5:30am, 5:50am, and 6:10am to connect with these trains.

Saturday and Sunday Night:

• The last southbound train departing Antioch at 11:58pm and Pittsburg/Bay Point at 12:12am will be cancelled.
• Riders must take the earlier southbound train, which departs Antioch at 11:32pm and Pittsburg/Bay Point at 11:46pm.

Sunday Morning:

• The first southbound trains departing Concord at 7:37am and 7:57am will be cancelled.
• Instead, the first southbound trains going to San Francisco will depart Walnut Creek Station at 7:45am, 8:05am, and 8:25am.
• Buses will depart Concord at 7:23am, 7:43am, and 8:03am and Pleasant Hill at 7:30 AM, 7:50m, and 8:10am to connect with these trains.

This upcoming work is part of BART’s overall effort to improve safety and reliability of the 131-mile, 50 station system. There are now more rebuilding projects happening across BART than at any point in its more than 50-year history. You can learn more about the progress of this work by reading the 2024 Measure RR Annual Report published by the independent Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee.

You can keep up with the latest updates for trackway repair projects that impact service by going to our Alerts and Advisories page. BART’s Trip Planner has been improved to show the full rider journey including bus bridges. You can also check Real Time Departures for your station of choice.

(This article was first published 12/6/24)

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the BART Police Department hosted its 11th annual awards ceremony to honor the officers, civilians, and good Samaritans who went above and beyond to serve their community over the past year. View photos of the honorees in attendance in the above slideshow.  

There was a heavy heaping of holiday cheer in the air as department members gathered with their families in a festive room, decorated with balloons and trees trimmed in BART’s blue and white colors. The jovial master of ceremonies, Lieutenant Jesse Sekhon, came dressed in a new BART holiday sweater, embellished with holiday-themed BART Police patches. 

Chief of Police Kevin Franklin opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees, including recently retired BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez, to the standing-room-only gathering and recognizing department members who were working shifts during the celebration. Franklin began his remarks by defining some of the many changes the department saw in 2023, including a redeployment strategy that has more than doubled the presence of sworn officers on trains. 

Franklin also cited the department’s immense recruitment efforts to fill officer vacancies. In June, the BART Board of Directors approved an agreement that increases police officer salaries to put the department’s pay on par with other Bay Area law enforcement agencies.  

“Hiring is nonstop right now,” Franklin said.  

Following Franklin’s remarks, the presentation of colors, and the chaplain’s invocation, Sekhon – the lights of his holiday sweater blinking – took to the mic to begin the awards ceremony. All honorees were nominated for their awards by their colleagues. 

The first honoree was Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) Amnesty Afholderbach, who was recognized with the Community Service Award for her “vigilance, awareness, and quick response,” which has resulted in numerous apprehensions and many lives being saved throughout the system. Her peers and supervisor said she represents the ethos and philosophy of community-oriented policing “to the fullest.” 

The second Community Service Award recognized CIS Natalie Robinson, CIS Ciaundria Allen, and CIS Leslye Chavez for their efforts to offer services to a specific group of individuals who often visited Castro Valley Station. One of the individuals, Harley, is the son of a BART employee.  

On Sept. 25, 2023, Harley walked into the station in search of CIS Robinson. He said he was ready to get help for his drug addiction, which had led to him living on the street. CISes Robinson, Allen, and Chavez coordinated with Harley’s parents, BART foreworker Bryan Snyder and Melissa Snyder, to coordinate paperwork and insurance information and help to arrange travel to the treatment program. The CISes saw him off at the train station. They even packed him food for the journey.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Bryan Snyder announced that his son has been sober for 80 days. Attendees clapped and cheered at the news, with many wiping tears.  

“We are so lucky to have crossed paths with them. They saved our son,” Melissa Snyder said of the CIS team.  

Robinson said the Snyders are “like family to me now," and that she and her team members receive regular updates on Harley’s condition.  

“We’re cheering him on,” Robinson said. “It’s heartwarming to know your work is making a difference.”  

The emotional presentation of the Community Service Award was followed by the conferment of the Exceptional Case Award, honoring Detective Michael Polcar, Officer Miguel Tellez, and Detective William Baker for their fast work in apprehending a murder suspect just over an hour after the suspect committed the crime.  

Community Service Officer Eufracio “Ace” Lanta, who was hired just a year ago at twenty years old, was then named Civilian of the Year for his proactivity and eagerness to support fellow department members. Sekhon noted that for the first time in BART Police Awards history, Lanta’s nomination came from multiple sergeants and officers.  

Three members of the public were recognized with the Good Samaritan Award: William Hannigan, Cynthia Christian, and Shawyan Moosavi. Sekhon said the group sprang into action in December 2022 to restrain a suspect on a train until police arrived. Moosavi was in attendance to collect the award.  

The Life-Saving Award honored Sergeant Shaun O’Connor, Officer Prabhdeep Chehal, Officer Teaundre Matthews, Officer Frances Shannon, Officer Michael Roman, Officer Justis Miller, Officer Travis West, Officer Glen Eddy, and Officer Marc Mabalot. In January, the officers worked together and demonstrated creativity and quick-thinking to ensure a man was brought to safety from the trackway.  

Three awards followed, including Patsy Lara-Hernandez being named Dispatcher of the Year. Lara-Hernandez was commended for always maintaining high spirits in the dispatch center as well as her ongoing efforts to train new employees. She brought a special guest to the ceremony – her new baby.  

Officer of the Year Garrett Dibble was recognized as a standout member of the department for his exceptional work ethic, his regular volunteering efforts, and his passion for police work. “I have no doubt that this will be the first of many recognitions in his career,” Sekhon said. After the ceremony, Dibble noted that the award “is a career accomplishment for me." 

The final honoree was Sergeant Christopher Plumley, who was honored with the Chief’s Award. Plumley was commended for helping to further define and expand his role as Administrative Patrol Sergeant as well as assisting in the creation of the department’s redeployment plan, which he helped roll out in March 2023.  

After the ceremony, Plumley said it “means a lot to be recognized, but it’s always a team effort.”  

“We’re a family when we come in each day, and a family when we go home,” he said. His words provide a neat summary for the spirit of the awards ceremony and the department ethos at large.  

Congratulations to the 2023 BART Police Award Winners 

Community Service Award: Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) Amnesty Afholderbach, CIS Natalie Robinson, CIS Ciaundria Allen, and CIS Leslye Chavez 

Exceptional Case Award: Detective Michael Polcar, Officer Miguel Tellez, and Detective William Baker  

Civilian of the Year: Community Service Officer Eufracio “Ace” Lanta  

Good Samaritan Award:  William Hannigan, Cynthia Christian, and Shawyan Moosavi 

Life Saving Award: Sergeant Shaun O’Connor, Officer Prabhdeep Chehal, Officer Teaundre Matthews, Officer Frances Shannon, Officer Michael Roman, Officer Justis Miller, Officer Travis West, Officer Glen Eddy, Officer Marc Mabalot 

Dispatcher of the Year: Dispatcher Patsy Lara-Hernandez 

Officer of the Year: Officer Garrett Dibble 

Chief’s Award: Sergeant Christopher Plumley 

A new day for riders arrives Wednesday, August 20, as BART becomes the Bay Area’s first Tap and Ride system. Starting with tomorrow morning’s commute, Tap and Ride will provide riders the ability to pay adult fares at BART fare gates using physical contactless credit or debit cards or mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. With Tap and Ride, riders will no longer need to use a Clipper card to ride BART.  This will be an immense timesaver for riders who can now use their contactless bank cards to ride BART with zero registration or setup process required. 

“Tap and Ride follows the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates, running only Fleet of the Future trains, boosting cleaning, and increasing our visible safety presence as efforts that are transforming the BART experience,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “This is an especially important innovation for out-of-town visitors and infrequent riders who may not have a physical or digital Clipper card and want a simple way to use our service.” 

“Right now, San Francisco is seeing real momentum, and you can feel it across the city—on our streets, in our businesses, and in the energy downtown. And we are continuing this momentum by giving residents and visitors an easy, reliable way to get to the heart of our city,” said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Tap and Ride will make it faster and easier than ever to take BART into and around San Francisco, and it will help drive our city's recovery.”

Tips for using Tap and Ride on BART 

Cards accepted for Tap and Ride on BART include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover Network. Physical bank cards must be contactless enabled, with the contactless symbol on either the front or back of the card. Riders can also use bank cards added to digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay to Tap and Ride.  

When paying with a contactless bank card, riders will be charged full adult fares, and riders with eligibility-based discounts, such as Clipper START or youth and senior discounts, must continue using their physical or digital Clipper card. Transfer discounts will not be available with Tap and Ride until the feature is rolled out to the Bay Area’s other transit agencies. Riders transferring from BART to a connecting transit agency are advised to use their physical or digital Clipper card to receive the current transfer discounts.  

Each rider must pay with their own card or device, and they must use the same card or device to tap in and tap out of the BART system. If family members have the same credit card number but they are on different cards and devices, they will be able to use it. 

Tap and Ride going Bay Area wide 

Tap and Ride functionality for BART riders marks the first step in the transition toward the long-awaited next generation of the Bay Area’s Clipper® electronic transit-fare payment system being implemented by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and participating Clipper transit agencies. Contactless bank cards soon will be accepted by the nearly two dozen other Bay Area transit agencies that accept Clipper for fare payment. Once the next generation of Clipper is rolled out Bay Area wide, Tap and Ride will include all discounted fares and transfers between transit services. 

“MTC and the Bay Area transit agencies will be rolling out a number of other improvements to the Clipper fare payment system in the coming months,” said MTC Chair and Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack. “This early rollout of contactless bank card acceptance on BART is an example of MTC’s commitment to making transit fare payment easier for riders across the region.”  

BART now accounts for about half of all Bay Area transit trips paid for using Clipper. In 2019, the agency retired paper tickets and began accepting only Clipper card fare payments. 

How to avoid card clash 

Card clash occurs when a Clipper reader detects more than one card at a time, which can result in card reader errors (i.e., three beeps, red light and tap again messages) or having the wrong card charged. This applies to both Clipper cards and contactless bank cards, including cards stored in digital wallets.   

To avoid card clash, users of physical cards should remove their card from their wallet or purse before tapping. Riders using Apple Pay to Tap and Ride can easily enable Express Mode for their credit or debit card by accessing the Wallet and following the steps. Those with a Clipper Card already added to Apple Wallet who would prefer to use Tap and Ride to pay for transit must turn off Express Mode for Clipper card. 

Android devices will automatically present the digital Clipper card if the user has one in Google Wallet. Android device users can override this feature and pay with Tap and Ride by navigating to their desired bank card before tapping on a Clipper card reader.  

Starting August 20, customers can call the Clipper Customer Service Center at 877-878-8883 for assistance using contactless bank cards. Customers also may visit the Clipper Contactless Payments webpage to learn more. A new website feature allows customers to get a list of recent contactless transit-fare payment transactions.  

Learn more about how to use Tap and Ride at bart.gov/contactless