[BHS Etree] MISC: Information on AC Transit Youth Card Changes

[BHS etree]

This message was prepared by AC Transit. Please contact them with questions
or for further details. 

August 23 through 26:  AC Transit "Clipper Card" registration

If you rely on AC transit and/or BART for transportation to school, you will
want to attend the special Clipper Card registration events at Berkeley
High, on Monday August 23rd through Thursday August 26th from 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.  You should pre-register online if possible; see further
information below. Please note that school officials will be available at
BHS during registration to assist with age verification.

AC Transit has eliminated paper bus passes in favor of Clipper-- which was
formally known as TransLink-- the regional all-in-one transit card. As
of July 1, Youth 31-Day passes will be available only on personalized
Clipper (TransLink) Youth cards. Sales of paper Youth 31-Day tickets ended
as of  June 30, and the tickets will not be accepted on the bus after July
31.  (If you have some paper passes left over, they may be exchanged for
Clipper credit, but you have to download a Ticket Exchange form and do this
by mail.)

Clipper Cards may be used on AC Transit, BART, Muni, and other Bay Area
transit systems.  They can be loaded with dollar amounts, or with fast-pass
monthly amounts, and can be reloaded automatically and replaced if stolen.
 Here's how to make the transition to Clipper (although if you currently
have a TransLink card it still will work just the same.)  

Getting a Clipper (TransLink)  Youth card
There are two ways to apply for a personalized Clipper (TransLink) Youth
card. 
Please note that the youth needs to be present to apply and have a photo
taken.

• Pre-register to attend an outreach event such as the August events at
Berkeley High. You will need to bring proof-of-age documentation--a birth
certificate, passport, military dependent card, or alien registration card. 
(If you haven't pre-registered, you can complete a form at the event.) Your
card will be mailed to you within 14 days. 

• Visit the AC Transit Ticket Office at 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, with
the pre-registration form and documentation as outlined above. (You can
bring the pre-registration form with you or complete one at the office.) The
ticket office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
except holidays, and also from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on these Saturdays:
May 22, June 26, July 24, and August 28. Your card will be mailed to you
within 14 days.

You can get many of your questions answered here. If you need
additional information, you can send an e-mail
to [mailto:customerservices at actransit.org] or call 511 (and say, "AC
Transit").

More on the elimination of Youth 31-Day paper tickets 
July 31 was the last day to use Youth 31-Day paper tickets to pay your fare.
Starting August 1, they will not be accepted on the bus. If you end up with
unused or partially used tickets, here's how you can exchange them. 

Exchanging unused paper Youth 31-Day tickets
Starting now, you can exchange unused Youth 31-Day paper tickets for a Youth
31-Day pass on a Clipper (TransLink) Youth card. If you don't have a 
Clipper (TransLink) Youth card yet, you'll need to apply for and receive
your card before the ticket value can be transferred. Then download and use
the Ticket Exchange Form. 
Unused Youth 31-Day paper tickets can also be exchanged for $15 worth of
single-ride paper tickets. Download a Ticket Exchange Form, and complete and
mail it along with the unused tickets to AC Transit Treasury Department,
1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612. 

Exchanging partially used Youth 31-Day paper tickets
If you end up with a partially used ticket that was still valid as of August
1, 2010, you can exchange it for single-ride tickets based on the prorated
dollar value remaining. (In other words, a partially used ticket with a
third of the month remaining would be exchanged for five single-ride tickets
worth $5, or one-third of the original $15 cost.) Use the Ticket Exchange
Form.   

Please also note:  
• Youth fare eligibility has been extended through age 18 (previously 17).
• All youth ages 5 through 18 must have their own Clipper (TransLink) Youth
card to take advantage of the discounted Youth 31-Day pass. The cards cannot
be shared.
• Local Adult 31-Day and 10-Ride paper tickets, and Youth/Senior/Disabled
10-Ride paper tickets will still be available after June 30 (although they
will likely be eliminated later this year).