The program complements BART’s long-term efforts to reduce crowding and congestion on trains and in stations, including upgrading train control and other major system infrastructure, adding more trains to the fleet, and expanding station capacity.
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Interestingly, you don’t actually have to ride BART to get points – BART will grant 250 points (that’s 25 “spins”) to people who write in and request them (see the user agreement for details). The BART Perks program will award points for each mile traveled on BART during off hours, and commuters can earn up to six times as many points by starting their trip during the morning bonus hours, from 6:30 to 7:30am and 8:30 to 9:30am. Each month, reward balances will be transferred to participants’ PayPal accounts.
Officials are also encouraging employers to sign to participate in the pilot program.
Officials at BART said that if 1,200 riders shift their commute times outside of the morning peak commute, it would be the equivalent of relieving crowding on a 10-car train, making room for commuters who are not able to change their commute times.
Pitched back in March, the six-month “gamify-ing” pilot program seeks to reward riders with points that can later be exchanged for cash or applied to a lottery-like game.
BART Board Director Gail Murray said in a statement that the goal of the program is to shift riders to times when BART is not crowded.
Riders receive $1 for every 1,000 points accrued, BART said.
Officials are committed to doling out up to $50,000 a month in cash – money that will come from BART operating funds, a federal grant, and a half-cent SF sales tax.
BART Perks is being offered through BART and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
Is those hours don’t work for you, BART wants to persuade your employer to let you shift your work schedule and hopes to see 10,000 perks program signups and 1,200 people shift their commute.
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After the pilot program ends in February 2017, officials will evaluate the results and determine if the transit agency should pursue future incentive programs.
