Home Contra Costa County Tri Delta Transit: Clipper Card Set to Begin Nov. 1

Tri Delta Transit: Clipper Card Set to Begin Nov. 1

by ECT
Tri Delta Transit released information Monday on the Clipper Card which is set to start on November 1. They provided general information as well as a Q&A.
Clipper Card

Information provided below assumes a Clipper start date of November 1, 2015. Please note that this date may change based on Clipper readiness. A new schedule will be in effect starting November 1, 2015. No time changes have been made from the current schedule.

Using Clipper on Tri Delta Transit

Starting November 1, 2015 Clipper will be accepted on all Tri Delta Transit buses (Paratransit not included).

Clipper automatically figures out the cost of your ride, including all discounts and transfers.

If you pay for your ride with cash value, you must have a minimum balance of $1.75 on an adult or Youth Clipper card or 75 cents on a Senior or RTC Clipper card.

To use Clipper on Tri Delta Transit, locate the Clipper card reader on the bus. Tag your card by holding it flat against the Clipper logo on the reader, and wait for the beep and green light. The card reader either will verify that you have a valid pass and display the expiration date or will deduct the cash value fare and show your remaining balance.

If your card balance is low, the reader will beep twice and display a yellow light. You can still board the bus, but you will need to add value to your card before your next trip. If you do not have enough value on your card, the reader will beep three times and display a red light, and you will not be able to pay your fare with Clipper.

Changes to 24-Hour Passes/Pass Price Increase with Clipper

With the arrival of Clipper Card, 24-Hour passes will change to single-Day Passes and will expire at 2:59 am after purchase/validation. Day Pass prices effective with the arrival of Clipper will be as follows:

• Day Pass General Public: $3.75

• Day Pass Senior/Disabled: $1.75

Fares and passes on Clipper

When Clipper begins on Tri Delta Transit, you will be able to use a 31-Day Pass or cash value on a Clipper card.

Minimum Balance

When paying with cash value, you will be required to have a minimum balance of $1.75 on an adult or Youth Clipper card or 75 cents on a Senior or RTC Clipper card. No minimum cash value balance is required if you are using a 31-Day Pass.

31-Day Passes

A 31-Day Pass gives you unlimited rides on designated routes. You have the following options for 31-Day passes:

PassAccepted on
Tri Delta Transit 31-Day PassAll Tri Delta Transit Local and Express routes
East Bay Regional Local 31-Day Pass
  • County Connection (upgrade fee for adults and youth on Express routes)
  • Tri Delta Transit
  • WestCAT (except for Lynx Transbay service)
  • Wheels
East Bay Regional Express 31-Day Pass
  • County Connection
  • Tri Delta Transit
  • WestCAT (except for Lynx Transbay service)
  • Wheels

 

Tri Delta Transit 31-Day passes, East Bay Regional Local 31-Day passes, and East Bay Regional Express 31-Day passes will be able to be loaded on adult, youth, senior and RTC Clipper Cards at the adult/youth price.

Day Passes/Day Pass Accumulator

A Day Pass gives you unlimited rides on a single day (S3.7S for adults and youth/Sl.75 for senior and RTC customers). The Day Pass Is a regional pass that is good on most County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT and Wheels routes. You get the Day Pass discount automatically, only If you need it. Once you pay $3.75 in fares in a day ($l.75 for senior and RTC customers) on any combination of the participating transit services, your rides will be free of charge for the rest of that day. Free rides and fares paid on WestCAT Lynx Transbay service do not apply toward a Day Pass.

Transfers and Fare Credits

Clipper will automatically provide a free transfer ride on another Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, WestCAT or Wheels bus within 120 minutes of using your Clipper Card on a Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, WestCAT or Wheels bus. Clipper also calculates free or discounted transfer fares from BART for adults and youth.

If you are transferring to a transit service that does not accept Clipper, you should request a paper transfer.

FAQ
Can I use my Clipper card on all Tri Delta Transit routes?

Yes. When Clipper begins being accepted on Tri Delta Transit, your Clipper Card will be accepted on all Tri Delta Transit routes.

How long is my transfer good?

Transfers (one transfer ride only) will be good for 120 minutes after boarding a bus. If you tag your second bus within the appropriate time frame, you will be granted your transfer. If you tag after that period, Clipper will deduct additional fare from your card.

Do I need to ask for a paper transfer?

Clipper keeps track of your rides and automatically grants you appropriate transfer discounts when transferring to another agency that accepts Clipper. If you are transferring to a transit service that does not accept Clipper, you should request a paper transfer.

How does the Day Pass work?

A Day Pass gives you unlimited rides on local and express routes on a single day ($3.75 for adults/$1.75 for youth, senior and RTC customers). The Day Pass is a regional pass that will be valid on Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, WestCAT and Wheels local routes. You get the Day Pass discount automatically, only if you need it. The actual amount you pay on local routes is credited toward earning a Day Pass. Free rides and fares paid on WestCAT Lynx Transbay service do not apply toward a Day Pass. Once you pay $3.75 in local fares in a day ($1.75 for youth, senior and RTC customers) on any combination of the participating transit services, your rides on local routes will be free of charge for the rest of that day.

If I have a 31-Day Pass on my Clipper card, do I need to tag my card every time?

Yes. Whether you are paying your fare with cash value or a 31-Day Pass, you must tag your card to a Clipper card reader every time you board the bus.

If I add a new 31-Day Pass on my Clipper card before my current 31-Day Pass expires, when does the new 31-Day Pass become active?

It depends on how you add your pass. If you add a new 31-Day Pass in person while the previous pass is still active on your card, Clipper will simply extend the expiration date of your current pass by 31 days, with no gap in between. If you want a gap in between your old pass expiring and the new one becoming active, purchase your new pass only after the old one expires, and the new pass will be activated the first time you use it.

If you are signed up for Autoload or you order your pass online or by phone, Clipper will automatically load the new pass to your Clipper card the next time you tag your card after the original pass has expired. For example, if you have a Local 31-Day Pass that expires on May 12, the new pass will not become active until the first time the card is tagged AFTER May 12. If you do not tag your card again until May 21, the new pass will be activated with a start date of May 21 and an expiration date 31 days from the start date. This happens automatically, with no disruption in your ability to use Clipper.

Apply for a Clipper Card

To apply for Clipper Card, download the appropriate application below (also available at clippercard.com) and mail, fax or email the completed application to the address listed on the application. You may also bring the completed form with a photo ID and proof of age to Tri Delta Transit’s administrative office at 801 Wilbur Avenue in Antioch. Hours are Monday–Thursday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Fridays from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Acceptable proof of age includes a valid Driver License, State ID card, alien registration/permanent resident card, matricula consular/consular ID card, SF City ID card, or a birth certificate.

Senior Clipper cards are available at Tri Delta Transit’s administrative office, however, they have no stored cash value. Cash values may be added to the cards at many locations including BART stations.

Youth Clipper cards (ages 5 to 18 yrs old) are NOT available at Tri Delta Transit’s administrative office. You may turn in completed applications along with acceptable proof of age at Tri Delta Transit, but the cards will be mailed to the applicant by Clipper.

Tri Delta Transit, along with other smaller suburban operators are not yet equipped to accept the Clipper Card. For participating agencies, as well as information about Clipper Card please visit www.clippercard.com

Download Clipper Card Application

Senior Application: Click here to download the application

Youth Application: Click here to download the application

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