BART fares set to increase 3.4 percent in the new year
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - BART passengers can expect to pay more for a ride in 2016 as fares are set to increase around 3.4 percent starting on Friday.
The increase is part of an inflation-based formula BART adopted in 2003 to assist with the billions of dollars the agency needs to keep the system running safely and reliably.
Under the formula, fares will be increased at the start of every even-number year through 2020.
BART's board of directors voted to dedicate all the money from the increases to its top priority projects, including new train cars, a new train control system and the Hayward Maintenance Complex.
Fares were last raised at the start of 2014 with a 5.2 percent increase.
BART officials said the 2016 increase is estimated to generate $15 million annually, in addition to the $20 million the 2014 increase generated annually.
The minimum BART fare, which is currently at $1.85, will rise to $1.95 come the new year on Friday morning.
Details on the planned increase are available at www.bart.gov/guide/titlevi along with a chart indicating the increases per ride in 2016.
BART isn't the only transit system that will experience fare hikes in the new year. Some fares for SamTrans paratransit bus service are changing as well.
Paratransit riders can expect to see an increase in one-way trip rates from $3.75 to $4.25 starting Friday.
SamTrans will also see an increase from $2.00 to $2.25 for non-paratransit travelers starting Jan. 10.
Lifeline fares, available to low-income customers, will remain the same. In November, the SamTrans board of directors voted to increase the fares as a necessary response to inflation costs for operating the bus system.
The board also approved a 10 percent discount for Clipper card customers, while passengers 18 years of age and younger now qualify for a youth discount, SamTrans officials said.
The fare hike is the first of a series of increases to restore fiscal health in the agency, according to SamTrans officials. It will be the first time since 2010 that fares have been raised.
The next increase is scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2019.