Aug 18, 2025 - News

BART to begin contactless payments at fare gates

Nadia Lopez

Man in red and white cap uses a ticket to pass subway turnstile with red barriers, while people walk nearby in a busy underground station. — A passenger uses a Clipper card at the 19th Street BART station in Oakland. Photo: Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Starting Wednesday, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) riders will be allowed to use contactless credit and debit card payments to pay for fares.

Why it matters: The new feature, which has been years in the making, eliminates the need to buy or reload Clipper cards and brings BART in line with transit systems in New York and London.

Driving the news: The new payment option will allow riders to either tap a physical credit or debit card or use cards stored in mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay at fare gates.

That means you will be able to tap at the gate in the same way you pay at the grocery store, coffee shop or any other retailer.

Caveat: Riders who depend on discount fares, such as low‑income people, youth and seniors, must still use a Clipper card.

What's next: Local transit officials plan to expand contactless payment to all regional systems, including Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit.

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BART to begin contactless payments at fare gates

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