SAN FRANCISCO — Bay Area customers have recently welcomed the arrival of Next Generation Clipper, a new and improved version of the all-in-one transit payment system that streamlines the customer experience with easier fare payment options.
Clipper is a reloadable, contactless smart card system for automated fare collection in the San Francisco Bay Area managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. This payment option, available across approximately two dozen agencies, is accepted by San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Caltrain, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), SamTrans, Golden Gate Transit, Golden Gate Ferry, San Francisco Bay Ferry and Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), among many others.
Previously, Clipper was a closed-payment system in which users uploaded money to the Clipper Card, used specifically for transit fares and has historically been the primary payment method for Bay Area transit.
With the launch of Next Generation Clipper on Dec. 10, the service has shifted to an open-payment system in which transit fares can be paid through a variety of new methods. In addition to using Clipper Cards as before, customers can load their Clipper cards digitally through Internet applications or make payments with debit and credit cards at the faregate/farebox.
WSP in the U.S., one of the world’s leading professional services firms, is providing account management and customer service support for Next Generation Clipper which offers more transit payment options for buses, trains and ferries throughout the Bay Area.
“With Next Generation Clipper, customers are able to simply use their credit or debit cards, digital payment methods or present identification tied to their specific rider accounts for payment,” said Patrick McGowan, PE, senior vice president and mobility operations national market leader, WSP in the U.S. “Free balance transfers, ability to manage multiple accounts for families and other new features and functionality are now in place for convenience.”
This new open-payment system has removed barriers for first-time and infrequent transit users, including tourists and intercity travelers. It has allowed faster boarding and helped make transit more accessible to low-income or paratransit riders who may prefer not to pre-load funds to transit-only cards.
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in more than 50 countries and employs 75,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in the U.S.’s team of approximately 19,600 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, and mining and metals sectors.
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