Caltrain station with two trains on either side of the platform.

EMPLOYEE COMMUTER BENEFITS

Clipper® BayPass for County Employees

Free, unlimited transit across the Bay Area for regular County employees. Sign up with your Clipper card to get started.

Overview

Clipper® BayPass is an unlimited transit pass that provides free access to bus, rail, and ferry services across the Bay Area, including BART, Caltrain, SamTrans, Muni, and more. Starting November 1, 2026, BayPass is available to regular County employees as part of a 14-month pilot program running through December 31, 2027. To get it, you just register your Clipper card through a short sign-up form.

With BayPass, employees can use participating transit services for their commute, as well as everyday travel across the region: errands, appointments, and trips beyond the work day.

Eligibility

Must be a regular San Mateo County employee.
Extra-help, temporary, County-employed interns, and term employees aren’t eligible for BayPass, but can still earn Commute Cash on days they take transit.
Superior Court employees aren’t eligible for Baypass. Court employees will continue to receive the existing $150 monthly transit subsidy.
Sworn Sheriff’s Office personnel aren’t eligible for BayPass, but can still earn Commute Cash on days they take transit.

How to Sign Up

1. Have your 19-digit Clipper® card ready. Baypass loads fastest on cards with a 19-digit number. If your card has a 10-digit number, see “Getting a Clipper Card” below before you sign up.

2. Submit the BayPass sign-up form with your Clipper card number.

3. We’ll load BayPass onto your card. Once it’s active, you can confirm it in the Clipper app or at a Clipper ticket machine.

Don’t Have a Clipper Card? Here’s How to Get One

We recommend a 19-digit Clipper card. All mobile Clipper cards have a 19-digit number. Some plastic cards still being sold have 10-digit numbers, which can delay your BayPass.

On Your Phone (recommended)

Add a Clipper card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or set one up in the Clipper app. Mobile cards are 19 digits, and your number is available right away.

Step-by-step instructions
In Person

Buy a card at any Clipper ticket machines

Locations
Online

Order a plastic card at clippercard.com and it will be mailed to your home.

Can’t get a card yourself? The County can provide a Clipper card to employees who don’t have one, but this will take a long time. Getting your own card is the quickest way to start using BayPass. If you need a County-provided card, email commute@smcgov.org.

Where You Can Use Your BayPass

Covered
- AC Transit
- BART
- Caltrain
- Golden Gate Transit & Ferry
- Muni
- SamTrans
- SMART
- VTA
- San Francisco Bay Ferry
- Marin Transit, SolTrans, WestCAT, and other regional operators
Not Covered
- ACE (Altamont Corridor Express)
- Capitol Corridor / Amtrak
- Muni cable cars
- Parking at transit agency facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

I already have a Clipper card. Do I still need to sign up?

Yes. Submit the BayPass sign-up form with your Clipper card number so we know which card to load BayPass onto.

Do I need to tap my Clipper card when using BayPass?

Yes. Tap your Clipper card every time you board or enter a station. BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, and San Francisco Bay Ferry also require you to tap off at the end of your trip. Your tap is your proof of payment, so skipping it may result in a citation, even with BayPass.

Do I need to pay each time I ride?

No. BayPass provides free, unlimited rides on participating transit services that accept Clipper. Just tap your card or phone on and off each ride as usual.

What if my card is lost or stolen?

Contact Clipper to report and replace your card. Once you have a new card, reach out to commute@smcgov.org so BayPass can be moved to your new card.

Can I share my BayPass with a family member?

No. BayPass is assigned to one employee and cannot be shared.

I’m in the Courts department. Do I get BayPass?

No, Courts employees aren’t part of the BayPass rollout. You can continue using the previous $150/month Transit Subsidy for mass transit, vanpool, or paratransit instead.

I’m an extra-help, temporary, or seasonal employee. Am I eligible?

Not for BayPass at this time, but you can still use Commute Cash to earn $8/day for walking, biking, transit, or carpooling.

Still have a question?

Email commute@smcgov.org .