A: You apply at your local transit agency.

When applying for a Discount Card:

Be sure to find out when applications are accepted by your local transit system before you go.

If you need a form sent to you, call your local transit agency.

Your photograph will be taken at the transit agency when you submit your application. Your eligibility will be verified later, and your Discount Card will be mailed to you in 7 to 21 days. If you haven't received your card in the mail or a request for more information within 21 days, contact the transit agency where you submitted your application.

Upon receiving your Discount Card, you are immediately eligible for reduced fares on all participating public transit systems. No additional proof of eligibility is required, but you must show the Discount Card at the time of paying the fare.

ELIGIBILITY

How do I show that I am eligible for the Discount Card?

Basic Eligibility

If you are eligible under one of the "Basic" categories noted below, you are encouraged to apply under that category. "Basic" eligibility does not require medical certification.

To qualify for Basic Eligibility you must have one of the following, and you must bring it with your application:

Medical Eligibility

If you do not meet any of the "Basic" eligibility categories listed above, you must be medically certified by one of the licensed professionals listed below. You qualify in this category if your disability meets one of the listed categories.

Can I pay a discount fare without an RTC Discount Card?

You may also obtain a discount fare without the RTC Discount Card when boarding a regular bus or rail (not paratransit) vehicle by presenting one of the following, along with a second piece of photo ID. However, to avoid confusion or potential delay, you may wish to apply for an RTC Discount Card.

Please note that some agencies, such as AC Transit, MUNI and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), also require the RTC Discount card to be used together with discounted monthly passes. In this case, your monthly pass sticker must be attached to the Discount Card to be valid. Stickers for attendants must also be attached to the card.

ATTENDANTS

Q: What if I need to travel with an attendant?

A: Complete the Medical Certification application form, which allows the professional to note that you need an attendant. An attendant symbol will be placed on your Card. The attendant is eligible for the discount fare while accompanying you. The attendant is not eligible for a discount fare while traveling alone, and will not be issued a Discount Card.

Q: What if I need to travel with a service animal?

A: A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Certification or documentation is not required for your service animal. However, the service animal must be under your control at all times.

LOST CARDS

Q: How can I get my Discount Card replaced if it is lost or Stolen?

A: You should inquire at the public transit agency which issued the card to see if the card has been returned. If so, you may reclaim your old card at no cost. If your lost card has not been returned, fill out a lost card application form and we will mail you a replacement card within 7-12 days once the $5.00 replacement fee has been paid. For cards issued before June 1998, you may be asked to submit proof of identity before the card can be mailed to you. Due to the volume of lost cards, we cannot issue a temporary card pending replacement.

EXPIRATION

Q: How long is the card valid?

A: It depends on your disability as determined by your medical professional. Discount Cards are valid for a maximum of three years. However, if your disability is expected to be permanent, you may have a "P" printed on your card but it must still be renewed. See "Subsequent Renewals" below for additional info on renewing "permanent" cards. Please note that some "Basic" eligibility categories are good only for as long as that eligibility is valid, such as two years for DMV eligibility.

RENEWAL

Q: How do I renew my Discount Card?

A: There are two types of renewal:

First time renewals, beginning June 1998

If your card was issued before June 1998, the first time your card expires you will be required to complete a new application. This will ensure that the information on file is accurate, and will allow staff to verify your eligibility.

Subsequent Renewals

If you have a permanent disability (indicated by the letter "P" on the card), or are a senior citizen, subsequent renewals (after June 2001) can be completed by mail. Call your transit agency for a renewal application, fill it out completely and return it with the $3 renewal fee. Other, "non-permanent" cardholders must complete the application process each time the card expires. Approximately two months prior to the expiration of your Discount Card, a renewal notice will be sent to you.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your transit agency has your current address.

QUESTIONS

Q: What should I do if I have a question, suggestion, complaint or compliment about the Discount Card Program?

A: First, contact your local transit agency. If, after contacting them, you still require assistance, contact the Discount Card Program Office at (510) 208-0200.

VISITORS

Q: I am visiting the Bay Area and have a discount card from a transit system in another city. Can I get a Regional Transit Connection Discount Card?

A: Yes.

California Transit Systems: Any person who has a valid transit discount card from a California transit system outside of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area is eligible to receive a Discount Card for the same period of time as that card is valid, or up to three years, whichever is less.

Out-of-State Transit Systems: Persons with a valid out-of-state transit discount card must show it when submitting the Basic Eligibility application form. You will be issued a visitor Discount Card valid for up to three months. Persons visiting for three months or longer must follow the procedure for residents.

PARTICIPATING TRANSIT AGENCIES

Q:Where do I take my discount card application?

NOTE: Where times are not indicated, please call the transit agency to determine days and times applications are processed.

AC Transit (Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District)
Customer Services 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 891-4706 TDD (510) 428-2266
Applications accepted Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.

BART (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District)
800 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607 (Lake Merritt BART Station)
(510) 464-7133 TDD (510) 839-2218
Applications accepted Monday-Friday,
9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

Caltrain (Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board)
Certify at SamTrans, Valley Transportation Agency or Muni.

County Connection (Central Contra Costa Transit Authority)
Transportation Center, 220 Ygnacio Valley Rd.,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (At the Walnut Creek BART Station)
(925) 676-7500 TDD (800) 735-2929 VOICE (800) 735-2922
Applications accepted Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Golden Gate Transit
(Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District)

1. Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza District Administration Building
   San Francisco, CA 94129
   (415) 921-5858 TDD (415) 257-4554
   Applications accepted Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
2. Marin Senior Coordinating Council (Whistlestop Wheels)
   930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
   (415) 456-9062 Applications accepted Monday-Thursday,
   10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Muni (San Francisco Municipal Railway)
2630 Geary Blvd. (at Masonic), San Francisco
(415) 923-6070 TDD (415) 351-3443
Mailing Address: Discount ID Program 949 Presidio Avenue
Room 2630, San Francisco, CA 94115
Applications accepted Monday-Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit District)
1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306
(800) 660-4287 TDD (650) 508-6448
Applications accepted Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-Noon;
1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Santa Rosa City Bus
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 543-3325
Applications accepted Tuesday, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 p.m., Room 7.

Sonoma County Transit
355 West Robles Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407
(707) 576-7433 TDD (707) 585-9817 Call for schedule information.

Valley Transportation Authority
(Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority)

1. VTA Offices
   3331 N. 1st St., Bldg. B, San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 321-2300
   TDD (408) 321-2330
   Applications accepted Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
2. Downtown Customer Service Center
   2 North First St., San Jose, CA 95112
   Applications accepted Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
   Saturday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Tri Delta Transit (Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority)
801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch, CA 94509 (925) 754-6622 Call for appointment.

Vallejo Transit
1850 Broadway, Vallejo, CA 94589 (707) 648-4666 TDD (707) 649-5421
Applications accepted Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Wheels (Livermore/Amador Valley Transit Authority)
1362 Rutan Ct., Suite 100, Livermore, CA 94550 (925) 455-7555
Call for an appointment.

NOTE: TDD USERS: You can contact any telephone number through the California Relay Service at (800) 735-2929 or (800) 735-2922 (voice).

Cardholders can also use the RTC card to travel at a discount fare on:

Petaluma Transit
11 English Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 778-4460 Call for schedule and location information.

Fairfield-Suisun Transit
(707) 428-7590 Call for schedule and location information.

Vacaville City Coach
(707) 449-6000 Call for schedule and location information.

A NOTE TO MEDICAL CERTIFIERS

The purpose of the RTC Discount Card Program is to ensure that only eligible individuals receive fare discounts as mandated by state and federal law. An individual's eligibility is based on their inability to use fixed-route transit (i.e., regular accessible buses, light rail, commuter rail or BART) without special facilities, planning or design. [49 US § 1608 (c)(4), Section 99206.5, CA PUC]

Local commuter transit operators are not reimbursed for these discounts by state and federal governments.

We are requesting your help to ensure that recipients meet the eligibility criteria. If you have questions, contact your local transit agency, or contact the Discount Card Program Office at (510) 208-0200.

You may certify eligibility only in the categories related to the field of practice in which you are licensed in the state of California to diagnose:

• Licensed physicians with an M.D. or D.O. degree, licensed physician's assistants and nurse practitioners may certify in all categories in which they are licensed to diagnose;
• Licensed chiropractors, categories 1, 2, 3 and 4;
• Licensed podiatrists, disabilities involving the feet under categories 1, 2, 3 and 4;
• Licensed optometrists, category 9;
• Licensed audiologists, category 10;
• Licensed clinical psychologists and licensed educational psychologists, categories 12, 15, 16 and 17;
• Licensed marriage and family counselors (MFCC) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), category 17.

Your address and medical license information (required on each application form) will be verified with the state Medical License Board, and will be entered into our database.

Only individuals meeting the definitions below are eligible. When completing the application form, please indicate a Section Code corresponding to the descriptions below.

GUIDE TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligibility Criteria Section Codes

Section 1:  Non-ambulatory Disabilities
Section 2:  Mobility Aids
Section 3:  Musculo-Skeletal Impairment [including Arthritis]
Section 4:  Amputation
Section 5:  Cerebrovascular Accident [Stroke]
Section 6:  Pulmonary Ills
Section 7:  Cardiac Ills
Section 8:  Dialysis
Section 9:  Sight Disabilities
Section 10:  Hearing Disabilities
Section 11:  Disabilities of Incoordination
Section 12:  Mental Retardation
Section 13:  Cerebral Palsy
Section 14:  Epilepsy [Convulsive Disorder]
Section 15:  Infantile Autism
Section 16:  Neurological Handicap
Section 17:  Mental Disorders
Section 18:  Chronic Progressive Debilitating Disorders
Section 19:  Multiple Impairments
Section 20:  Veterans
Section 21:  Senior Citizens
Section 22:  Medicare/DMV Authorization
Section 23:  Visitors and Holders of Valid California Transit Discount Cards

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA - DESCRIPTIONS

Section 1 - Non-ambulatory Disabilities. Impairments that, regardless of cause, require individuals to use a wheelchair for mobility.

Section 2 - Mobility Aids. Impairments that cause individuals to walk with significant difficulty including individuals using a leg brace, cane, walker or crutches to achieve mobility.

Section 3 - Musculo-Skeletal Impairment (Including Arthritis). Musculo-skeletal impairment such as muscular dystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta or any type of arthritis; such as functional Class III or anatomical Stage III.

Section 4 - Amputation. Persons who suffer amputation of, or anatomical deformity of (i.e., loss of major function due to degenerative changes associated with vascular or neurological deficits, traumatic loss of muscle mass or tendons and x-ray evidence of bony or fibrous ankylosis at an unfavorable angle, joint subluxation or instability): (a) both hands; or (b) one hand and one foot; or (c) amputation of lower extremity at or above the tarsal region (one or both legs).

Section 5 - Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke). With one of the following: (a) pseudobulbar palsy; or (b) functional motor deficit in any of two extremities; or (c) ataxia affecting two extremities substantiated by appropriate cerebellar signs or proprioceptiv e loss post 4 months.

Section 6 - Pulmonary Ills. Respiratory impairments of Class 3 and 4. Class 3: FVC between 51 percent and 59 percent of predicted; or FEV between 41 percent & 59 percent of predicted. Class 4: FVC less than or equal to 50 percent of predicted; or FEV less than or equal to 40 percent of predicted.

Section 7 - Cardiac Ills. Cardiovascular impairments of functional Class III or IV. Functional Classification: Class III: Individuals with cardiac disease resulting in marked limitation of physical activity. They are comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary physical activity causes fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea or anginal pain. For instance, inability to walk one or more level blocks or climbing a flight of ordinary stairs . Class IV: Individuals with cardiac disease resulting in inability to carry out any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of cardiac insufficiency or of the anginal syndrome may be present even at rest. If physical activity is undertaken, discomfort is increased.

Section 8 - Dialysis. Individuals whose disability requires the use of a kidney dialysis machine.

Section 9 - Sight Disabilities. Those individuals whose vision in the better eye, after best correction, is 20/200 or less; or those individuals whose visual field is contracted (commonly known as tunnel vision): (a) to 10 degrees or less from a point of fixation; or (b) so the widest diameter subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees; and (c) individuals who are unable to read information signs or symbols for other than language reasons.

Section 10 - Hearing Disabilities. Deafness or hearing incapacity that makes an individual unable to communicate or hear warning signals, including only those persons whose hearing loss is 70 dba or greater in the 500, 1000, 2000 Hz. ranges.

Section 11 - Disabilities of Incoordination. Individuals suffering faulty coordination or palsy from brain, spinal or peripheral nerve injury and any person with a functional nerve injury and any person with a functional motor deficit in any two limbs or who suffers manifestations which significantly reduce mobility, coordination or perceptiveness not accounted for in previous categories.

Section 12 - Mental Retardation. Refers to subaverage general intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period or as the result of illness or accident later in life and is associated with impairment in adaptive behavior (a general guideline is an IQ which is more than two standard deviations below the norm).

Section 13 -Cerebral Palsy. A disorder dating from birth or early infancy or as the result of illness or accident later in life, non-progressive, although if not treated there is marked regression in functioning characterized by examples of aberrations of motor functions (paralysis, weakness, incoordination) and often other manifestations of organic brain damage such as sensory disorders, seizures, mental retardation, learning difficulty and behavioral disorders.

Section 14 - Epilepsy (Convulsive Disorder). A clinical disorder involving impairment of consciousness, characterized by seizures (e.g., generalized, complex partial, major motor, grand mal, petit mal or psychomotor), occurring more frequently than once a month in spite of prescribed treatment, with (a) diurnal episodes (loss of consciousness and convulsive seizure); (b) nocturnal episodes which show residual interfering with activity during the day; or (c) a disorder involving absence (petit mal) or mild partial (psychomotor) seizures occurring more frequently than once per week in spite of prescribed treatment with: 1) Alteration of awareness or loss of consciousness; and 2) Transient post-ictal manifestations of conventional or antisocial behavior. Persons exhibiting seizure-free control for a continuous period of more than six (6) months duration are not included in the statement of Epilepsy defined in this section.

Section 15 - Infantile Autism. A syndrome described as consisting of withdrawal, very inadequate social relationships, language disturbance and monotonously repetitive motor behavior. Many children with autism will also be seriously impaired in general intellectual functioning. This syndrome usually appears before the age of 6 and is characterized by severe withdrawal and inappropriate response to external stimuli.

Section 16 - Neurological Impairment. A syndrome characterized by learning, perception and/or behavioral disorders of an individual whose IQ is not less than two standard deviations below the norm. These characteristics exist as a result of brain dysfunctions (any disorder in learning using the senses), neurologic disorder or any damage to the central nervous system, whether due to genetic, hereditary, accident or illness factors. This section includes people with severe gait problems who are restricted in mobility.

Section 17 - Mental Disorders. Individuals whose mental impairment substantially limits one or more of their major life activities. This includes inability to learn, work or care for oneself. A principal diagnosis from the DSM IV classification in one of the following areas is required for eligibility: Organic Mental Disorders, Schizophrenic Disorders, Paranoid Disorders, Psychotic Disorders not elsewhere classified, Affective Disorders, Somata Form Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Condition, and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. These diagnoses must be at Class 3 to 5 levels: Class 3 - Moderate Impairment. Levels compatible with some, but not all, useful functions. Class 4 - Marked Impairment. Levels significantly impede useful functioning. Class 5 - Extreme Impairment. Levels preclude useful functioning. (NOTE: If a person's disorder is in remission or primary incapacity is acute or chronic alcoholism or drug addiction, they will be specifically excluded from discount fare eligibility.)

Section 18 - Chronic Progressive Debilitating Disorders. Individuals who experience chronic and progressive debilitating diseases that are characterized by constitutional symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, pain and changes in mental status that, taken together, interfere in the activities of daily living and significantly impair mobility. Examples of such disorders include: (a) Progressive, uncontrollable malignancies (i.e., terminal malignancies or malignancies being treated with aggressive radiation or chemotherapy); (b) Advanced connective tissue diseases (i.e., advance stages of disseminated lupus erythematosus, scleroderma or polyarteritis nodosa); (c) Symptomatic HIV infection (i.e., AIDS or ARC) in CDC-defined clinical categories B and C.

Section 19 - Multiple Impairments. This category may include, but not be limited to, persons disabled by the combined effects of more than one impairment, including those related to age. The individual impairments themselves may not be severe enough to qualify as a Transit Dysfunction; however, the combined effects of the disabilities may qualify the individual for the program.

Section 20 - Veterans. Any veteran who holds a disability rating for aid and attendance, or a service-connected disability with a rating level of 50 percent or higher, must include his or her VA number on the Basic Eligibility Application Form and bring a copy of the VA certification when submitting the form. All other veterans are subject to the eligibility criteria described in sections 1-19 and 21-23.

Section 21 - Senior Citizens. Persons 65 years or older may receive a Discount Card. Seniors need only complete the Basic Eligibility Application Form and provide proof of age.

Section 22 - Medicare/DMV Authorization. Individuals possessing a Medicare card and/or DMV authorization are automatically eligible to receive a Discount Card. A doctor's certification is not required. However, the Basic Eligibility Application Form must be completed and returned to your local transit agency. Individuals will be required to s how either their Medicare card or DMV placard identification at the time the application is submitted.

Section 23 - Visitors and Holders of Valid Transit Discount Cards.Any person who holds a valid transit Discount Card from any California transit operator is eligible to receive a Discount Card for the same period of time as that card is valid or three years, which ever is less. Persons with valid out-of-state transit Discount Cards must show the card from their transit agency to the local transit agency and complete the Basic Eligibility Application Form. You will be issued a temporary Discount Card valid for up to three months.