Student BayPass Pilot Program

Additionally, UC Berkeley students who self-identified as low-income and were provided BayPass took 23% more public transit trips than low-income students who only had access to AC Transit EasyPass.

BayPass Pilot Update

We are continuing the pilot for the BayPass program, but are not accepting requests or applications to participate in the BayPass Pilot for the 2024-25 school year at this time. Students may inquire with the Class Pass Committee and the ASUC for Guidance for advocacy once the pilot is over.

Have questions?

Before you email us, we encourage you to read on the FAQs on how the BayPass Program will work this year! (Updated 8-14-2023)

What is the BayPass Pilot?

UC Berkeley is partnering with Bay Area public transit agencies, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on a two-year pilot project to study the benefits of a transit pass that provides access to all transit services in the 9-county Bay Area. Beginning in August 2022, 12,000 randomly selected UC Berkeley students will automatically have their Student EasyPass upgraded to a Clipper BayPass, at no charge to the student or the university. 

What does the BayPass Pilot Cover?

The Clipper BayPass will allow access to all bus, rail, and ferry services in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area that accept Clipper (listed at right) for no charge beyond the existing cost of the EasyPass (paid through student fees). Please review the agencies below that will accept your pass. 

 

(Please note: BayPasses do NOT Cover BART Parking, BayWheels BikeShare, or SFMTA/MUNI Cable Cars. Please budget Accordingly)

What's changed for 2024-25?

The Clipper BayPass pilot will continue to be available through the 2024-25 academic year, only if the student was already selected for the pass, has continued to enroll as a current student, and the student has paid the $105 per semester Student Class Pass Fee.

UC Berkeley nor Parking & Transportation are not be accepting requests or applications for the 2024-25 school year. The pilot will utilize the data from the existing pool, and those who have lost the privilege (either through graduation or excusal from UC Berkeley) will not have benefits reassigned to new applicants or a new pilot group. 

Students may inquire within the Mobility and Equity Committee and the AC Transit Student Class Pass Oversight Committee for guidance and participation regarding the future of the program beyond Spring 2025.

If I have not received the BayPass, will I still be able to use the EasyPass?

Yes. If you are not selected to receive the new pass, you can continue to use your existing AC Transit Student EasyPass, which will allow you to travel on all AC Transit routes in the East Bay. Details about the Student EasyPass are here.

If affordability is an issue, we ask that you review and apply for the Clipper START program, which is a discounted fare program for those who need to take transit. Applicants (you must live in the Bay Area and meet federal income guidelines) will receive a second Clipper Card in the mail (which cannot be combined with EasyPasses).

What happens if I lose the BayPass?

The procedures for lost or stolen cards will be the same as before the launch of the pilot with the Student EasyPass. 

We require that replacement cards are done with the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Department. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30-4:00pm at 1995 University Avenue. A new card will be issued to you (included with the Clipper BayPass if you were selected to participate), subject to existing card replacement fees. 

If you are a BayPass holder and you need to replace the Clipper Card with the BayPass benefit, you will need to wait up to three weeks for the benefit to apply to your new card. Please budget your trips accordingly during that time; P&T nor UC Berkeley can expedite card issuances, nor do they have control over the process to update benefits to existing cards. Your existing AC Transit Student EasyPass benefits are operational and local/transbay trips can be made with the existing EasyPass.

Joint UAW-UC Statement Regarding Settlement of Clipper BayPass Pilot Grievance

The United Auto Workers (UAW) and the University of California, Berkeley have a mutual goal of reducing the carbon footprint of the UC community and improving access to transit. The University and the Union believe the MTC Clipper BayPass pilot program is an important step towards achieving this goal. Both parties are committed to exploring ways to expand BayPass or a similar program. 

To that end, on July 10th, the parties reached a settlement to resolve the Union’s grievances regarding BayPass pilot implementation at UC Berkeley. Highlights of the settlement include that student study participants will continue in the BayPass pilot through the end of the program; UC Berkeley and UAW will jointly meet with MTC to discuss expanding Bay Area transit options for the UC Berkeley community; and the parties will negotiate over expanding transit options via the MTC Clipper BayPass (or similar program) at UCB

For media inquiries, please contact Janet Gilmore at jangilmore@berkeley.edu on behalf of UC Berkeley and Connor Jackson at berkeley@uaw2865.org on behalf of UAW Local 2865.