From SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA):

Source: https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/accessibility/paratransit/essential-trip-card

Essential Trip Card: Helping Older Adults and People with Disabilities Navigate Reduced Muni Service

Muni is making necessary service reductions during the order to shelter-in-place. We know that for many people with disabilities and seniors, walking farther to an alternate bus — or paying for other transportation — isn’t possible. To serve this need, the SFMTA is announcing the Essential Trip Card (ETC) – a discount program to help seniors and people with disabilities make essential trips in taxis during this crisis.

The ETC will subsidize about two to three round trips by taxi per month for older adults (persons 65 and older) and people with disabilities. Eligible participants will pay 20% of the cost of a regular cab ride fare for essential trips. The program uses taxis to take people on essential trips like going to the grocery store, pharmacy or another necessary medical trip during the shelter-in-place period. Customers who pay $12 will receive $60 value for taxi trips on a debit card.

We ask riders to do their part by making only essential trips, washing their hands thoroughly or using hand sanitizer before and after taxi trips, wearing a mask or cloth face covering if possible, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or elbow and not touching their faces. We also encourage riders to clean their debit card, child seat, or any items that the driver or anyone else may help to carry or load with a sanitizing cleaner, before and after your trip.

Who qualifies?
To qualify for the program, customers must meet at least one of these qualifications:

• Age 65 or older
• Have a disability

Where can I go?
The program subsidizes taxi rides for essential trips like going to the grocery store, pharmacy or a necessary medical visit.

The card is only valid to pay for travel within San Francisco.

How do I apply?
An older adult or persons with disabilities may apply for the ETC program by calling 311 and mentioning the program. Staff will be available weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. While we encourage using the phone to minimize contact, as a last resort, qualifying customers may enroll in person at the SF Paratransit Broker’s Office (68 12th Street) if needed. The office remains open during regular weekday business hours (April 13, 2020).

Those eligible will be automatically enrolled in the program and will be mailed a debit card. Note that because Essential Trip Cards come via mail, there will be several days between enrollment and when you are able to use your card.

How does it work?
Once your Essential Trip Card is activated, you will need to put funds on your card to use the trip discount. For every $6 you load on your card, you will receive a $30 value. You may load up to $12 per month to receive a monthly maximum of $60 of value on your card.

How do I load my card to pay for my trips?
Once you receive your Essential Trip Card, you will need to activate it. Your Essential Trip Card has a sticker on it with instructions. Funds can be added by:

• Setting up an account online at https://sfparatransittaxi.sfmta.com
• Providing payment information over the phone (for debit/credit payments only)
• Sending a check in the mail to SF Paratransit, 68 12th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103; or
• Arrange to pay in cash by calling SF Paratransit at 415.351.7052.

How often can I load a card?
Cards may be filled once a month, for each month of the reduced transit service.

What if I need to take more than $60 worth of taxi trips each month?
This program is intended to support essential trips only. To maximize the number of people who can be served, we are limiting the discounted value to $60 of taxi service per month.

How do I get a taxi once I have my card?
To start a trip, ETC cardholders can hail taxis, including ramp taxis, on the street, by phone, or by Flywheel app. Get details on all San Francisco taxi companies on our website or in your ETC orientation packet.

What information do you need to provide to apply?
Our goal is to get eligible people enrolled quickly and we will work with people to verify their eligibility. For registration, applicants should have:

Older adults (persons 65 and over) can provide their date of birth and their Senior Clipper Card number, or another proof of age, like a driver’s license, a California ID, passport or other documentation.

Disabled persons under 65 should have a Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount Card. An RTC card also serves as Clipper Card for persons with disabilities. The customer would provide the RTC number on the front of Card, as well as their birthdate for verification. If you do not have an RTC Card and are under 65, we can help determine if you are eligible for one.

READ the complete original notice from SFMTA here:

https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/accessibility/paratransit/essential-trip-card