Seniors and young people can now ride for free on the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District trains until June 2025, the passenger rail’s officials said Monday.
From Monday to June 30, 2025, SMART will be following the new fare structure to encourage the chosen age groups to use public transportation and at the same time, care for the environment and improve mobility in the region.
Those eligible for free fares are young people ages 18 and under, and seniors ages 65 and older. They can board any SMART train any day without paying.
The passenger rail’s officials said the chosen age groups are not required to have a Clipper card or to use the SMART eTickets app as the goal of the program is to reduce “the barriers to entry on the system.”
“Train conductors will check fares as usual; seniors and youth may be asked for proof of age (state ID, license, or student ID). If a Clipper Card is used the fare charged will be $0 (zero),” SMART officials said.
According to SMART, youth and seniors represent 42 percent of the population of Sonoma and Marin counties yet currently account for 25 percent of its ridership.
Eric Lucan, Chair of the SMART Board of Directors, emphasized that by “removing financial barriers for youth and seniors, we’re not only facilitating easier mobility but also contributing to a cleaner, greener future for the communities we serve.”
“With more individuals choosing to use rail transit over personal vehicles, we’re making gains in reducing our region’s carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner and greener environment,” he said.