Key Takeaway: Enabling customers to pay for paratransit with their Clipper Card will make the paratransit service easier and more convenient to use for more people.
SF Paratransit will be the first paratransit agency in the Bay Area to pilot the use of next-generation Clipper Cards for payment on paratransit. Integration of the Clipper Card as a form of payment means incorporating a nearly universally-used regional transit card as another payment option for the SF Access van service. It will simplify payment for SF Access trips for those who do not frequently use the service, such as riders from outside San Francisco.
To participate, riders will need to have their Clipper Card numbers on file with SF Paratransit. Once on file, when making a reservation, a rider will be asked by the customer representative if they intend on paying for their trip with their Clipper Card. If so, on the day of the trip, the driver will be alerted that the rider intends to pay by Clipper Card and will confirm with the rider. If the rider confirms they will pay through their Clipper Card, the driver will confirm it through their tablet and the funds will be deducted from the rider's Clipper account.
The SFMTA and SF Paratransit will be working closely with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on the implementation of the updated Clipper Card system for the SF Paratransit program. MTC will be purchasing the Trapeze software product needed to facilitate this integration, and paying for the maintenance service cost of the system for the first five years of operation.
The SFMTA is working with MTC and Trapeze software to address certain concerns, including the cost of customizing the off-the-shelf software product. Customization may be necessary to meet the SF Access program rules, and to ensure that those reserving their trips online are able to access Clipper as a payment option when booking their trip. Once integration is completed, the SFMTA and SF Paratransit will be responsible for testing the system with real SF Access van riders and for training reservation staff and drivers to accurately process Clipper Card payments.