The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) Board of Directors (Board) authorized the setting of a public hearing for Thursday, September 24, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., to receive public comment on a proposal to expand the Clipper START discount fare program to include Marin local rides on Golden Gate Transit bus service. The public hearing will be held via audio conference.
The Board previously approved a Clipper START discount for Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry regional rides in September 2019; this regional 50% fare discount is available only when using a Clipper card.
Transit affordability has been highlighted as an issue in the Bay Area. In May 2018, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved the implementation of a pilot Regional Means-Based Fare Program as a way to provide greater mobility options for low-income persons on participating transit systems in the Bay Area. Persons with income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $70,000 per year for a family of four in the Bay Area) would be eligible.
The pilot program launched in July 2020 on Golden Gate Transit and Ferry (regional fares only), BART, Muni, and Caltrain. A second cohort of agencies, including Marin Transit, is expected to launch the program beginning in November 2020.
The District observes Marin Transit fares for local travel within Marin County on Golden Gate Transit buses. Currently, the Clipper START discount applies ONLY to regional fares – the discount does not apply to local Marin County fares. In order to provide a seamless experience for Clipper START-eligible passengers who use Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit interchangeably for travel within Marin County, the District needs to match local Marin fares. To implement this, further action by the District Board is required.
Provide Your Input:
Public comments on this proposal may be submitted in several different ways:
- Attend audio conference (Thursday, Sept. 24 @ 9:00 a.m.). Call 415-569-6446;
- By email. Email publichearing@goldengate.org; and/or,
- In writing. Send written comments to the District Secretary, P.O. Box 9000, Presidio Station, San Francisco, CA 94129-0601.
All comments are considered equally without regard to the manner in which they are submitted. All comments will be considered in the final staff recommendation. Comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2020.
For more information about the proposal, read the full staff report at https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/25/2020-0827-financecomm-no6-authorizepublichearing-added-20200824.pdf.