BART eliminates paper ticket sales at all stations to convert to Clipper card
OAKLAND, Calif. - BART has eliminated paper ticket sales at all of its stations and will sell fares exclusively through Clipper going forward, the transit agency said Monday.
BART began testing a move to only selling fares through Clipper in August 2019 with a pilot program at the 19th Street Oakland, Embarcadero, Powell Street and Downtown Berkeley stations.
The agency then accelerated the conversion in light of the
coronavirus pandemic, opting for the touchless fare payment of a Clipper card over a paper fare ticket. The conversion was completed last week, according to the agency.
BART officials have argued that increased use of Clipper cards
will allow riders to move faster in and out of fare gates and will reduce paper waste. The Clipper system is also used by nearly every other transit agency in the Bay Area.
Transit riders with paper tickets that have a remaining value of
more than $1 can claim a refund at any station or by mailing the ticket to BART's Treasury Department, which can be reached at (510) 464-6841.
BART riders can find information on obtaining a Clipper card at
clippercard.com and bart.gov/clipper.