OAKLAND — BART officials are keenly aware of the sardine can-like feeling its passengers are routinely subjected to each morning, which is why on Tuesday, the agency officially launched a new pilot program that offers commuters cash and the chance to win prizes if they avoid traveling during rush hour.
The program works by linking passengers’ PayPal and Clipper card accounts. For every mile traveled, riders earn one point, but if the riders shift their morning commute from the 7:30-8:30 a.m. hour to one of the two “bonus hours,” between 6:30-7:30 a.m. or 8:30-9:30 a.m., they get up to six points. Those points can be redeemed for cash or, if you’re feeling lucky, a chance to play the “Spin to Win” game, which offers a grand prize of $100.
Not everyone will be able to change their commute time. But BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said in an interview last month that the agency is actively working with employers to get them on board “because you need your boss’ permission to come in early or late.”
Nearly a half-dozen employers have already signed up as of Wednesday, she said.
The six-month, $1.4 million pilot is a partnership with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and will offer up to $50,000 per month, depending on how many people enroll, BART officials said. The pilot is particularly targeting East Bay riders who travel to the Embarcadero or Montgomery stations, but any riders can enroll until the program reaches a total of 25,000 participants.
If just 1,200 passengers participate, BART officials say it would free up space for an entire 10-car train.
“Our goal is to see if we can shift riders to less crowded times, which will improve everyone’s experience on BART,” said Gail Murray, a BART board director who had first advocated for the pilot after seeing similar incentive programs work in other places.
Visit BARTperks.com to learn more.
Contact staff writer Erin Baldassari at 510-208-6428. Follow her at Twitter.com/e_baldi.
