Key Takeaway: The SFMTA should continue to provide assistance for paratransit riders who have difficulty paying their fares.
Van Trip Fares Indexed to Muni Clipper Fare
The current fare for an SF Access trip, Group Van, Shop-A-Round van and Van Gogh trips is $2.50 each way. All riders must pay the driver in cash (exact change only), with a single ride ticket, or via the MuniMobile app.
Although the ADA allows paratransit agencies to charge up to twice the adult fare, SF Paratransit has never charged more than Muni's standard adult fare.
Taxi Debit Card Allotments
Some paratransit taxi passengers cannot pay for all the taxi rides they need with their monthly taxi allotment (the amount they are able to add to their debit card every month). The SFMTA subsidizes 80% of the cost of a taxi fare: riders pay $6 for every $30 worth of taxi value.
The SFMTA has processes to help these passengers increase their allotment. The process varies slightly between those who are eligible for the paratransit taxi program and those enrolled in other taxi programs, like the Essential Trip Card (ETC) program.
- Paratransit taxi passengers must complete a form if they are requesting an allotment increase over $180. Passengers are required to provide information about the additional taxi trips as well as an explanation for the purpose of these new trips.
- ETC riders must demonstrate a need for more than $60 worth of taxi rides, usually by exhausting their taxi allotment for several consecutive months. To be eligible for an allotment increase, a passenger may not have a rollover amount month-to-month and may not have a card balance of more than $60.
The Helping Wheels Fund
The goal of the Helping Wheels Fund is to assist people with the cost of paratransit fares for travel within San Francisco via SF Access or SF Paratransit taxi services. Helping Wheels is funded by individual donations. To be eligible, individuals must:
- Have a qualifying income, based on SSI or GA standards.
- Be an ADA-certified Paratransit rider.
- Have a sudden unexpected medical need requiring many trips (e.g., starting kidney dialysis), unexpected loss of residence or possessions (e.g., due to a fire or theft), a documented financial need, or other significant need.
From July 2014 to June 2024, the Helping Wheels fund has disbursed $5,051.50 to 43 different paratransit riders to help cover the cost of paratransit.
Fare Assistance Program with the Community Living Campaign
The SFMTA has also partnered with the Community Living Campaign (CLC) to provide fare assistance for those enrolled in the Essential Trip Card program who are unable to use the rider’s share of their monthly allotment. All participants must be referred by and approved by CLC.
From December 2020 to June 2024, the Community Living Campaign disbursed $61,122 through 4,519 disbursements to 627 paratransit riders. On average each rider has received 7 disbursements from the CLC.