Solano County Transit riders can now use Clipper cards to pay for their rides, Mona Babauta, executive director, said.

Last week, SolTrans joined the Clipper network that issues an all-in-one fair payment card that is accepted by nine transit operators in the San Francisco Bay Area, Babauta said.

“With this launch, Clipper is now available with Napa and Solano transit operators, including SolTrans, FAST, the VINE, Vacaville City Coach, and Vallejo-San Francisco Bay Ferry,” she said.

She called the Clipper card “an easy, fast, secure, and reusable” alternative to cash or paper passes.

Cards also may be registered for security and automatic value loading, she said.

However, youth and senior cards require registration if users are to be assessed reduced fares, Babauta said.

Unlike paper cards, she said the Clipper card is reusable and can hold multiple operator passes.

“Transfers with participating Clipper operators with reciprocal fare agreements are automatically calculated,” she said.

SolTrans is offering “cash value” and 31-day local and 31-day multi-zone fixed-route passes for Clipper, Babauta said.

She said about 25 percent of trips on local routes are paid through a monthly pass, compared to 40 percent on regional routes.

“These riders now have the option of using Clipper,” she said.

SolTrans will sell cards for adults, youth for those 6 to 18, and senior class for those 65 and older. Those younger than 65 with qualifying disabilities may apply for a Regional Transit Connection Clipper card to receive discounted monthly Clipper passes.

Babauta said Clipper cards are accepted on SolTrans fixed-route buses, but not for Dial-a-Ride or ADA Paratransit.

Clipper cards can be bought or refilled by telephone at Clipper Customer Service, 877-878-8883, or online at clippercard.com.

They may be bought in person at the Vallejo Transit Center, 311 Sacramento St., Vallejo, or the Vallejo Ferry Ticket Office, 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo.

In Benicia, riders can buy them at Raley’s Supermarket, 890 Southampton Road. Additional Vallejo purchasing sites are the two Walgreens drug stores, one at 2647 Springs Road and one at 1050 Redwood St.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission also will have several Clipper Launch outreach events, where Napa and Solano residents can obtain information and free promotional cards.

Those interested may visit the SolTrans website, soltransride.com.