The Bay Area’s Clipper transit fare collection program has reached the millionth milestone - 1 million active cards in circulation.
As of Dec. 16, there were 1,000,606 active Clipper cards in use, nearly a 30% increase from the 778,197 active cards in circulation six months ago, and a 142% increase from the 413,616 active cards in circulation a year ago.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) attributes the success to transit operator campaigns to transition more riders, especially youth and senior riders, from paper tickets and passes to the reloadable Clipper card.
During the week ending December 9, 2011, MTC recorded an average of 584,000 weekday transit boardings using the Clipper card, up nearly 80% from the 325,500 weekday boardings a year ago at this time.
BART has been getting the word out - to alert riders about the need to get Clipper cards in order to access discounted fares - via events and in-station advertising. SamTrans similarly has been holding outreach events to sign riders up for a Clipper card before its paper monthly passes are phased out at the end of 2011.
There are seven major transit operators accepting the Clipper fare-payment system, the others being Caltrain, SamTrans, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Golden Gate Bus and Ferry system. Clipper can also be used on the express bus service across the Dumbarton Bridge. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/contactlessnews-4.gif)
