Starting in January 2010, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) will make $50 BART tickets available on a complimentary basis to military personnel on leave from Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

BART Board President Thomas Blalock called the program “a small token of our deep appreciation to the men and women who leave their loved ones behind and put their lives on the line to defend our freedom.”

BART Director Gail Murray, who came up with the idea to offer the free transit tickets, added: “Even in these tough budget times, we want to send our military personnel a message that BART, on behalf of the [San Francisco] Bay Area community, values their service and sacrifice.”

The one-year pilot program was approved by the BART Board of Directors. It provides for the issuance of up to $50,000 worth of free BART tickets from the Customer Services Center at the Lake Merritt BART Station to persons who present a valid military ID card and leave order from their respective branch of the military authorizing them to be on leave. If the $50,000 threshold is reached before the year is over, staff will return to the board to modify the program.

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