Assistance Programs

Programs that assist commuters in San Mateo County who meet income eligibility requirements or have mobility needs.

See the Assistance Programs Flyer for a quick overview of available programs and resources.

San Mateo County Caltrain Pass Forward Program 

Commute.org partners with Caltrain on its Pass Forward Program, which gives us an allocation of free GoPasses to distribute to eligible recipients who live or work in San Mateo County. Commute.org has been a partner of this program since it was launched as a pilot in 2021. 

Commute.org will be distributing its allocation of passes directly as well as in partnership with community-based organizations that serve essential workers and residents that meet the program requirements:

  1. Household income less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for San Mateo County, using 2026 data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
  2. Work or live in San Mateo County
  3. Use the card to get to work, job training, or job searching
  4. Use the pass at least twice a week

Please note that students, employees at educational institutions, and retirees are NOT eligible for this program. GoPasses are limited to two per household.

To apply, please complete the Caltrain survey. After completion, the Commute.org application will be emailed to you.

For active members in the program, please see below for helpful links using your GoPass. 

Flyer for free Caltrain pass in San Mateo County for income-eligible residents, listing requirements, income chart, and steps to apply, with logos for Commute.org and Caltrain at the top. This initiative is part of the Transportation Assistance Programs for San Mateo County Commuters, providing accessible transit solutions to those who qualify.

Go Card Program

The Go Card Program is sponsored and funded by the San Mateo County US 101 Express Lanes. The program helps qualifying San Mateo County residents cover some of their transportation costs.

Participants can receive a $200 mobility debit card as an annual benefit to spend on qualifying transportation purchases. The card can be used to cover costs related to public transit, express lanes, toll bridges, and more.

Go here for more information and to review benefits.

GO CARD San Mateo County" logo with blue text inside a rounded blue frame, representing Transportation Assistance Programs for San Mateo County Commuters.

Clipper Discount Programs 

Use Clipper card as a convenient payment option for a variety of transit agencies. Clipper offers several discount programs: 

  • Clipper START (50% discount for low-income riders) 
  • Youth & Senior discounts 
  • RTC Clipper card for riders with qualifying disabilities 
The image showcases the Clipper START logo with three blue triangular shapes, resembling play buttons pointing right, above bold blue lettering. This emblem represents a gateway to support services through various assistance programs designed to aid those in need.

WestLight Energy E-Bikes Rebate Program 

The E-Bike Rebate program is temporarily paused while they transition to a new system. They will not be accepting new applications during the pause. They expect to relaunch in August 2026.

WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy) offers the E-Bike Rebate program, for a discount of up to $1000 off the purchase of a new electric bicycle (e-bike) to qualified San Mateo County residents in a broader effort to raise awareness and adoption of this healthier, cleaner, and affordable transportation option.

The E-Bike rebate program is open year-round. See this page for updates and more information.

 

Westlight Energy logo with a green and blue abstract circular icon on the left and the company name in dark green lowercase text on the right, reflecting their commitment to initiatives like Transportation Assistance Programs for San Mateo County Commuters.

Bikeshare for All

Lyft Bike is proud to offer reduced-rate memberships to Bay Area residents who qualify for CalFresh, SFMTA Lifeline Pass, or PG&E CARE. The first year is $5, and then it’s $5/month after that. Bikeshare for All members get unlimited 60-minute rides on classic bikes, reduced e-bike rates—and a whole lot more. The easiest way to get going is through the Lyft app, but you can unlock bikes with a Clipper card as well. Click here for more information.

The image shows the “lyft bike” logo with “lyft” in bold pink letters and “bike” in bold dark gray letters on a light background, representing a modern option among Transportation Assistance Programs for San Mateo County Commuters.

SamTrans Special Services

Ride Plus is an on-demand, low-cost service available in Half Moon Bay/El Granada and East Palo Alto/Belle Haven. Riders can select pick-up and drop-off locations within a designated zone and pay the same low fare as a regular SamTrans bus.

Through the College Service program, students attending community colleges in San Mateo County can ride SamTrans buses for free.

The Paratransit program provides door-to-door service for riders with qualifying disabilities. There are no trip restrictions and eligible riders can use it to travel to and from work or for personal trips.

The image features the SamTrans logo, comprised of the word "samTrans" in bold black text above two horizontal stripes: one red and one blue, representing transit services in San Mateo County.

Commute.org Programs 

Visit Commute.org’s commuter page to find financial incentives, Guaranteed Ride Home program, Free Transit Tickets, and more for free to any commuters who live or work in San Mateo County.