SmarTrip

Last updated

SmarTrip
WMATA SmarTrip Card.jpg
Location Washington metropolitan area
LaunchedMay 18, 1999;26 years ago (1999-05-18)
Operator Cubic Transportation Systems, Accenture, Littlepay
Manager Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Currency USD ($300 maximum load)
Validity
Variants
Website wmata.com/fares/smartrip OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

SmarTrip is a contactless payment system for public transit in the Washington metropolitan area, managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. SmarTrip is accepted on the Washington Metro, Metrobus, and local bus services in Northern Virginia.

Contents

SmarTrip was introduced in 1999 on the Washington Metro, and began rolling out to buses in 2002. The Maryland Transit Administration partnered with WMATA to operate the CharmCard, a version of the SmarTrip card that was used for local transit services in the Baltimore metropolitan area from 2010 to 2025. [1]

SmarTrip was initially criticized for its slow rollout, and some Metro stations did not have SmarTrip vending machines until 2012. [2] [3] SmarTrip system upgrades since 2020 have allowed users to add their SmarTrip cards to Apple Pay and Google Wallet. Contactless credit and debit cards have been accepted on SmarTrip readers on the Washington Metro and Metrobus since 2025, branded as "Tap. Ride. Go." [4]

Services

Washington Metro

SmarTrip cards are accepted on the Washington Metro (Metrorail). SmarTrip fully replaced Metrorail paper tickets in 2016. [5] WMATA offers multiple types of daily, weekly, and monthly passes for Metrorail on SmarTrip cards. Washington Metro faregates also accept contactless credit and debit card payments for single trip fares only. [4]

SmarTrip cards provide discounts for passengers transferring between Metrorail and buses. Additionally, the SmarTrip system enables an out-of-system interchange between Farragut North station and Farragut West station. Exiting one station and entering the other to make a transfer between Metrorail lines is treated as a single trip by the SmarTrip system.

Metrobus

Farebox and SmarTrip reader on a Metrobus in 2023 DC Metrobus New Farebox.jpg
Farebox and SmarTrip reader on a Metrobus in 2023

SmarTrip has been accepted on Metrobus since 2004, replacing Metrobus paper transfers in 2009 and paper monthly passes in 2011. [6]

Regional buses

SmarTrip cards are accepted on multiple local and commuter bus operators across the Washington metropolitan area. As of 2026, Arlington Transit, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, and OmniRide accept SmarTrip cards for their fares. A Regional Bus Pass is available exclusively on SmarTrip cards, which covers rides on local services operated by Metrobus, Arlington Transit, and Fairfax Connector. CUE Bus, DASH, TheBus, and Ride On formerly accepted SmarTrip cards before they became fare-free. [7]

SmartBenefits

SmartBenefits is WMATA's system for distributing pre-tax commuter benefits to employees of eligible employers in the Washington area, including the federal government. Pre-tax commuter benefits allow employees to pay for the cost of their public transit trips to work with funds that are not subject to federal income taxes. SmartBenefits allows employees to directly send their funds to a SmarTrip card for rides on transit services that accept SmarTrip. SmartBenefits users can also distribute their funds to other services for their commute, such as a vanpool or a monthly pass for VRE and MARC commuter trains. [8]

Parking

As of 2026, WMATA accepts SmarTrip at 40 commuter parking facilities at Metrorail stations. At 13 stations, customers with SmarTrip provides a discounted rate on parking. Discounted parking rates are only available with a SmarTrip card, and are not available when paying for either transit fares or parking with a credit card. [9]

History

The SmarTrip system debuted for the public in May 1999, and was the first contactless smart card for transit in the United States. [10] : 173  It was implemented by Cubic Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic Corporation. Before the SmarTrip card was introduced, Cubic conducted a demonstration program from 1995 to 1996 using battery-powered electronic payment devices that were approximately the size of a cassette tape. [11] [10] : 173 

In the early 2000s, WMATA proposed to add fare capping to SmarTrip, awarding passengers a weekly or monthly unlimited pass after they took a certain number of rides in that period. Fare capping was planned to be branded as "Fair Fares." [10] : 22  WMATA's studies ultimately found that the system would be too technically complex, and marketing would be difficult, and the proposal was never implemented. [12] : 11 

SmarTrip introduced SmartBenefits in 2000, allowing employees of Washington-area employers to conveniently redeem pretax commuter benefits towards public transit. By 2003, SmartBenefits had over 550 employers enrolled, with over 17,000 employees. [10] : 63 

The first SmarTrip readers were installed on Metrobuses in 2002, [13] and SmarTrip was fully accepted across the Metrobus network by the end of 2004. [14] In May 2004, SmarTrip readers were introduced at parking garage gates. [14]

Two banks conducted pilot programs with WMATA in the early 2000s, issuing bank cards that also functioned as SmarTrip cards. First Union issued ATM cards that functioned as SmarTrip cards in 2000, [10] : 43  and Citibank trialled a combination SmarTrip-credit card in 2005. Neither program was made permanent, although a similar concept was used by the Barclaycard OnePulse card in London from 2007 to 2014. [15]

CharmCard faregates at Charles Center station in Baltimore, 2016 Faregates at Charles Center station, September 2016.jpg
CharmCard faregates at Charles Center station in Baltimore, 2016

SmarTrip cards fully replaced paper Metrobus transfers in 2009, and paper Metrobus passes in 2011. [6] In December 2010, 1,800,000 SmarTrip cards were in use. [16] The CharmCard system was introduced in Baltimore in 2010, creating a regional fare payment system for local transit services across the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas. [17]

WMATA hired Accenture in 2014 to upgrade the SmarTrip system, awarding the firm a contract worth $184 million. [18] The planned upgrades included support for PIV cards used as federal government employee IDs, and payments with contactless credit and debit cards. WMATA conducted a pilot program at 10 Metrorail stations and 6 bus routes, and hoped to fully implement the upgrade by 2017. [19] 3,000 people signed up to participate in the program, but only 400 participated, and WMATA was not satisfied with the results. [18] The contract was cancelled in the spring of 2016 by WMATA general manager Paul Wiedefeld, after $25 million was already spent. [20]

Metrorail customers whose SmarTrip cards do not have enough value to cover their fare must use an exit fare machine to add money to their card Takoma Station Elevator Faregate Exit 01.jpg
Metrorail customers whose SmarTrip cards do not have enough value to cover their fare must use an exit fare machine to add money to their card

When SmarTrip was introduced in 1999, riders were able to incur a negative balance of up to $5 on cards. This allowed customers to exit the Metrorail system if their card had insufficient value to cover their fare, and was funded by the $5 purchase price of the SmarTrip card. This policy was revised in 2013 to only allow a $1.50 negative balance, and removed altogether in 2018. Since 2018, all riders must have a sufficient balance on their card to pay a bus fare or exit the Metrorail system. [21]

District of Columbia Public Schools students began receiving student ID cards that also functioned as SmarTrip cards in the early 2010s. The DC One Card was launched in 2008 as a student ID for DCPS students, and could be used as a SmarTrip card beginning in 2011. The DC One Card replaced a system of paper bus and Metrorail passes for DC school students, who often take public transit to school, as DCPS does not operate traditional school buses. [22]

To receive free rides with their DC One Cards, students had to complete a complex registration process. Many students bypassed this process by boarding buses and entering Metrorail stations without tapping their cards. A study conducted at the end of the 2015-2016 school year estimated that students failed to tap their cards for 3.8 million trips. [23] WMATA changed its policies for the 2017-2018 school year, requiring students to tap the cards. The policy change was received poorly, and led to criticism of the registration process. [24] Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the DC One Card was replaced by standard SmarTrip cards with a Kids Ride Free pass pre-loaded onto the card. [25] Card shortages and administrative problems affected thousands of students in the early days of the Kids Ride Free SmarTrip card program, meaning that some students paid out-of-pocket or missed school. [26]

In 2018, WMATA introduced multiple policy changes to SmarTrip, including eliminating the ability for riders to carry a small negative balance on their cards. [27] A "Rush Hour Promise" program was introduced that year, providing automatic refunds to customers whose trips were delayed. The Rush Hour Promise was supposed to apply to both Metrobus and Metrorail, but in April 2018, only 0.26% of refunds were issued to bus riders. [28]

CVS Pharmacy publicly threatened to discontinue SmarTrip card sales at its stores in May 2018, before reaching an agreement with WMATA. [29] [30] Metrobus Route 79 only accepted SmarTrip for payment from 2018 to 2019 as part of a pilot program to remove cash payment as an option on Metrobus. The pilot was heavily criticized, [31] and was not made permanent. [32]

In 2020, Apple and WMATA enabled SmarTrip cards to be added to Apple Pay through the Wallet app. [33] In 2021, Google Pay on Android devices became supported as well. [34]

In the early 2020s, multiple bus operators in the Washington metropolitan area made their services free permanently, exiting the SmarTrip system. Many public transit systems in the United States temporarily removed fares in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the aftermath of the pandemic, local political leaders across the Washington area began seriously considering free fares on locally-operated bus systems. DASH, operated by the city of Alexandria, Virginia, was the first in the area to permanently implement a fare-free policy in 2021. [35] In Montgomery County, Maryland, the county-operated Ride On bus system specifically cited the cost of upgrading SmarTrip systems as a reason for removing fares in 2025. [36]

Design and promotional artwork

SmarTrip card design for the opening of the Metrorail Silver Line in 2014 SmarTrip Silver Line Design.png
SmarTrip card design for the opening of the Metrorail Silver Line in 2014

The standard SmarTrip card features a stylized design of a Metrorail car and a Metrobus in front the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol.

WMATA has issued special designs on SmarTrip cards since 2008. Limited-edition SmarTrip cards commemorate major events, including presidential inaugurations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and Metrorail expansions.

SmarTrip card promoting a Van Gogh exhibition in 2013 SmarTrip card featuring Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle.jpg
SmarTrip card promoting a Van Gogh exhibition in 2013

The first two promotional SmarTrip cards were issued in 2008 to commemorate the opening of the newly built stadium of the Washington Nationals, Nationals Park. Special SmarTrip cards commemorating the inauguration of President Barack Obama were issued in January 2009 and 2013. [37] In July 2013, a special July 4 commemorative SmarTrip card was introduced. A series of cards featuring Vincent van Gogh paintings were issued in 2013 to promote an exhibition of van Gogh's works. [38]

In June 2014, Metro celebrated the 125th anniversary of the National Zoo by issuing commemorative SmarTrip cards featuring "popular zoo baby residents." [39]

In July 2014, a commemorative SmarTrip card was issued to celebrate the opening of the Silver Line. [40] A refined version of this card was introduced in November 2022 to celebrate the opening of the second phase of the Silver Line.

In 2017 and 2025, special SmarTrip cards were introduced to commemorate the inauguration of President Donald Trump. [41] [42]

In March 2022, a promotional SmarTrip card was issued to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival. [43] Cards of different designs were also issued from 2023 to 2025. [44] [45] [46]

In May 2023, Metro introduced a commemorative SmarTrip card to celebrate the opening of the Potomac Yard Station.

In January 2025, a commemorative SmarTrip card was issued to celebrate the return of pandas to the National Zoo. [47]

Technology

A disassembled first-generation SmarTrip card WMATA SmarTrip card disassembled and annotated.jpg
A disassembled first-generation SmarTrip card

The first-generation SmarTrip system was installed by Cubic Transportation Systems. First-generation SmarTrip cards used Cubic's proprietary Go CARD technology, using proprietary chips manufactured by Fujitsu to Cubic's specification. Card data on first-generation cards was encrypted with the Triple DES cipher. Bus fareboxes were supplied by GFI Genfare, with smartcard readers in the fareboxes designed by Cubic. The bus farebox hardware was designed for forward compatibility, supporting the Go CARD technology and standard ISO/IEC 14443 smart cards. [48] [49]

The SmarTrip system allows customers to add value to their cards onboard buses. Customers can tap their card on a Metrobus farebox and insert cash to add value to the card. This option has been criticized for increasing dwell times on buses. [50]

The SmarTrip system expanded in the early 2000s, becoming a regional system that supported multiple transit operators in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. ERG Group developed a regional payment processing and customer service system for SmarTrip, which began operation in 2004. [51] Cubic installed new card readers on Metrorail fare gates in the late 2000s as part of a system upgrade that enabled more types of rail and bus passes. [52]

Cubic stopped manufacturing the Go CARD chips for SmarTrip cards in 2009, prompting WMATA to switch SmarTrip cards to a second-generation chip that is compatible with ISO/IEC 14443. [53] Second-generation SmarTrip cards have a serial number beginning with "0167." First-generation SmarTrip cards functioned until 2022. [54]

In the early 2020s, WMATA introduced upgrades to allow SmarTrip accounts in Apple Pay and Google Wallet on smartphones. SmarTrip accounts on smartphones emulate a physical SmarTrip card using the MIFARE 2GO cloud system from NXP, and are available by either opening a new account or converting an existing plastic SmarTrip card. [55]

The launch of contactless credit and debit card payments on Metrorail and Metrobus in 2025 used a cloud-based "overlay" developed by Littlepay, an Australian fintech firm. Littlepay's payment processing software operates separately from the existing SmarTrip computer systems, requiring only a reconfiguration of existing card readers. [56]

WMATA collects detailed data about passenger trips from the SmarTrip system. The most detailed data are available from Metrorail trips, where SmarTrip card users tap their cards as they enter and exit. WMATA staff use data from the SmarTrip system to inform policy and enhance service planning. [17] Additionally, SmarTrip data has been used for academic studies, including a 2024 study on gender disparities among caregivers who use public transit [57] and a 2025 study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Washington-area transit services. [58]

Variants

CharmCard

CharmCard
Location Baltimore metropolitan area
LaunchedSeptember 21, 2010;15 years ago (2010-09-21)
DiscontinuedDecember 31, 2025;3 days ago (2025-12-31)
SuccessorCharmPass mobile app
OperatorCubic Transportation Systems
Manager Maryland Transit Administration

The CharmCard was a variant of the SmarTrip card available in the Baltimore metropolitan area, managed by the Maryland Transit Adminstration. It was introduced in 2010, and was replaced by the CharmPass mobile app in 2025. [59]

The CharmCard system was designed by Cubic Transportation Systems, the same contractor as the initial SmarTrip installation. SmarTrip and CharmCard used the same technology, and value loaded onto either card could be used to pay for fares in both metropolitan areas. Fare prices, passes, transfers, and marketing were separate. [17] : 19 

The CharmCard was accepted on BaltimoreLink local buses, Metro SubwayLink, and Light RailLink services. Other Maryland Transit Administration services, including MARC trains and MTA Commuter Bus, did not accept the CharmCard. [59]

The CharmPass mobile app replaces the CharmCard, and sells tickets for all MTA services, including local and commuter buses, MARC, subway, and light rail. [59]

Youth cards

Multiple versions of the SmarTrip card are available for children under the age of 18. Each transit system using the SmarTrip system sets its own fare policy, including policies for youth fares. As of 2025, the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Montgomery County provide SmarTrip cards that allow students to ride some transit services in their local area for free. [60] [61] [62]

Reduced-fare programs

WMATA offers multiple types of SmarTrip card that provide 50% off all Metrobus and Metrorail fares. The Metro Lift program provides reduced fares to customers who are eligible for SNAP benefits. Senior SmarTrip cards are available to all customers over the age of 65, and reduced fares are also available for customers with disabilities. [63]

U-Pass

A special variant of the SmarTrip card is available for college students at Washington-area universities, which is paid for by student fees. The U-Pass SmarTrip card provides unlimited rides on Metrorail and Metrobus services, and is issued by participating universities. U-Pass eligibility includes multiple universities that are located outside the Washington area and offer Washington-area internship programs. [64] [65]

Criticism

Farecard vending machines at Morgan Boulevard station, equipped with SmarTrip targets. WMATA Farecard Machines.jpg
Farecard vending machines at Morgan Boulevard station, equipped with SmarTrip targets.

An early criticism of the SmarTrip cards had been that they were only sold at suburban Metrorail stations, online, a few selected retailers, and Metro sales offices. However, in 2008, Metro reached an agreement with CVS/pharmacy to sell the cards at 187 DC-area locations in an effort to increase SmarTrip use. [66] The SmarTrip cards are also sold at area grocery store chains. [67] In late 2012 WMATA installed SmarTrip vending machines at all Metrorail stations. [2]

A number of SmarTrip features that were supposed to be introduced in 2005 by SmarTrip's creator, Cubic Transportation Systems, were not fully implemented until 2012. [68] Initially, riders could only add value to a SmarTrip card at Metrorail stations or by using cash while boarding a Metrobus. In November 2008, after years of delays, WMATA announced that customers would have the ability to add funds to their SmarTrip cards online by September 2009, but that deadline was missed. [69] WMATA did launch SmarTrip's online reload feature in September 2011. [70] WMATA allowed customers to load a seven-day unlimited Metrorail pass to their SmarTrip cards in April 2012. [71]

Participating systems

SystemService areaService type
Washington Metro Washington metropolitan area Rapid transit
Metrobus Washington metropolitan area Local bus
Arlington Transit Arlington County, VALocal bus
Fairfax Connector Fairfax County, VALocal bus
Loudoun County Transit [72] Loudoun County, VACommuter bus
OmniRide Northern VirginiaLocal bus, commuter bus

Formerly participating

SystemService areaDiscontinued
DC Circulator Washington, DC
Baltimore Metro SubwayLink Baltimore metropolitan area Replaced by CharmPass app in 2025 [59]
Baltimore Light RailLink
MTA Maryland Local Buses
CUE Bus City of Fairfax, VA Fare-free since 2022, until 2026
DASH BusAlexandria, VAFare-free since 2021 [35]
TheBusPrince George's County, MDFare-free since 2025
Ride On Montgomery County, MDFare-free since 2025 [36]

Transfers

Cost of bus fare using SmarTrip
Fromto Local Buses [Note 1] to Express Buses [Note 2]
(Metrobus or Fairfax Connector)		to PRTC routes
Washington Metro Free$2.25 [73] $4.75 to PRTC OmniRide (full SmarTrip fare)
$2.40 to PRTC MetroDirect (full SmarTrip fare)
Metrobus:
All local routes		Free$2.25$3.50 to PRTC OmniRide
$1.15 to PRTC MetroDirect
Arlington Transit (ART)
Connect-A-Ride
DASH
Fairfax Connector
(except routes 393, 394, 395, 480, 599, 698, and 699)		Free$2.25N/A
Fairfax Connector routes 393, 394, 395, 480, 599, 698, and 699
Metrobus express routes
PRTC OmniRide		FreeFreeN/A
The Bus Free$2.25N/A
  1. ↑ Local Buses: Metrobus local routes, Fairfax Connector (except Routes 393, 394, 395, 480, 599, 698, and 699), DASH, and Arlington Transit.
  2. ↑ Express Buses: Metrobus express routes, PRTC OmniRide, PRTC MetroDirect, Ride-On route 70, Fairfax Connector routes 393, 394, 395, 480, 599, 698, and 699.

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Darreonna (May 14, 2025). "So long, CharmCard. Maryland phasing out transit card in favor of mobile app". The Banner. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Lazo, Luz (November 6, 2012). "All Metro stations now have SmarTrip vending machines". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ Di Caro, Martin (April 15, 2016). "Metro Dumps Next-Generation Fare Payment System After Faulty Trial". WAMU. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Lukert, Luke (November 11, 2025). "No need for SmarTrip card, new payment coming to Metrobus". WTOP News . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  5. ↑ "WMATA's rail turnstiles will no longer accept paper fares". Progressive Railroading. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Bus passes available on SmarTrip® starting October 17" (Press release). WMATA. October 12, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Pass Options". WMATA. Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ "How to Use SmartBenefits". WMATA. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Parking Details by Station". WMATA. Archived from the original on November 9, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Multisystems Inc.; Mundle & Associates Inc.; Simon & Simon Research and Associates Inc. (2003). Fare Policies, Structures and Technologies: Update (PDF). TCRP Report 94. Washington, D.C: Transportation Research Board. ISBN   0-309-08764-3.
  11. ↑ "Metro's Multiplexed Method for Public Transport". Washington Technology . December 22, 1994. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ Pettine, Amy; Rosenblum, Eryn; Manford, Brian (February 25, 2022). Fare Capping: Balancing Revenue and Equity Impacts. TCRP Synthesis 160. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. doi: 10.17226/26510 . ISBN   978-0-309-29546-8 . Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Layton, Lyndsey (November 13, 2002). "Metrobus Giving SmarTrip Farecards a Trial Run". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "WMATA History" (PDF). WMATA. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  15. ↑ Keitel, Philip (April 2011). "The Electronification of Transit Fare Payments: Examining the Case for Partnerships Between Payments Firms and Transit Agencies". Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Scott Tyson, Ann (December 30, 2010). "Metro seeks SmarTrip replacement". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 Okunieff, Paula (March 27, 2017). Multiagency Electronic Fare Payment Systems. TCRP Synthesis 125. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. doi: 10.17226/24733 . ISBN   978-0-309-45740-8 . Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Di Caro, Martin (July 13, 2015). "Metro May Dump New Fare Gate Payment System After Lackluster Trial". WAMU. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  19. ↑ Wallischeck, Eric York (April 27, 2015). Preliminary Strategic Analysis of Next Generation Fare Payment Systems for Public Transportation. TCRP Report 177. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. pp. 67–68. doi: 10.17226/22158 . ISBN   978-0-309-30860-1 . Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  20. ↑ Duggan, Paul (April 14, 2016). "Metro scraps plan for high-tech fare-paying system". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ Siddiqui, Faiz (November 24, 2017). "Amid fare crackdown, Metro to do away with negative balances on SmarTrip cards". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Metro, DDOT launch student pass pilot program" (Press release). WMATA. May 3, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  23. ↑ Smith, Max (June 11, 2016). "3.8 million free rides on Metro as students skip through". WTOP News. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  24. ↑ Powers, Martine (February 10, 2018). "Metro wants to switch D.C. students' ride passes to SmarTrip cards. It's not as easy as it sounds". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  25. ↑ Stein, Perry (June 8, 2018). "D.C. students will receive SmarTrip cards to ride public transit free". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  26. ↑ Smith, Max (November 1, 2018). "'Kids Ride Free' SmarTrip change impacted thousands of DC students". WTOP. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  27. ↑ Writer, Tatyana Hopkins-Washington Informer Contributing (January 10, 2018). "Metro Rapped for Fare Policy Change". The Washington Informer. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ Smith, Max (April 24, 2018). "Metro refunds flow to rail riders, not bus riders". WTOP News. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  29. ↑ Lazo, Luz (May 9, 2018). "CVS to end SmarTrip sales and other Metro card services heavily used by low-income riders". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  30. ↑ "CVS Agrees to Continue Selling Metro's SmarTrip Cards". NBC4 Washington. May 15, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  31. ↑ Kurzius, Rachel (September 6, 2018). "Metro Mulls More Cashless Bus Routes". DCist. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes Beginning Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, June 23, 2019" (Press release). WMATA. May 25, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Apple Pay With Express Transit Mode Goes Live for D.C. Metro Riders". MacRumors. September 2020. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  34. ↑ "SmarTrip on Android & Google Pay | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  35. 1 2 George, Justin (August 27, 2021). "Alexandria's DASH is going fare-free. The city says transit should be considered public infrastructure". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  36. 1 2 Zawodny, Daniel (July 3, 2025). "Hop on: Montgomery County just made its local buses free to use". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  37. ↑ Alarkon, Walter (November 20, 2008). "Obama's Mug on D.C. Subway Cards for Inauguration". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  38. ↑ "Van Gogh and Metro pair up on SmarTrip Cards". WTOP News. October 19, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Metro unveils new Smithsonian's National Zoo 125th Anniversary Limited Edition SmarTrip Cards". wmata.com. June 25, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Metro Will Celebrate the Silver Line Opening With Commemorative SmarTrip Cards". Streetwise. June 30, 2014. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  41. ↑ "WMATA | Metro unveils 2017 Commemorative Inaugural SmarTrip Card". WMATA. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  42. ↑ "WMATA | Inauguration service information and travel tips: Metro ready for Inauguration crowds, will open at 4 a.m." WMATA. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Metro will boost weekend train service for Cherry Blossom season". wmata.com. March 14, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Follow the blossoms and make Metro your ride during cherry blossom season". wmata.com. March 10, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Bring on the blossoms: Metro gets ready for the petals, including over a million visitors who come for cherry blossom season". wmata.com. February 29, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Metro ready to move crowds for cherry blossom season, will celebrate with train, bus wraps and special edition SmarTrip card". wmata.com. February 28, 2025. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Celebrate new giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo with commemorative SmarTrip card". wmata.com. January 22, 2025. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  48. ↑ Acumen Building Enterprise Inc.; Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (2006). Smartcard Interoperability Issues for the Transit Industry. TCRP Report 115. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. pp. 29–34. doi: 10.17226/14012 . ISBN   978-0-309-09870-0.
  49. ↑ Wehr, John (December 1, 2002). "Washington Metro's SmarTrip® program issues 300,000 contactless cards to area commuters". SecureIDNews. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  50. ↑ Lazo, Luz (January 14, 2016). "Metro considers eliminating SmarTrip loading aboard buses". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  51. ↑ Starcic, Janna (February 1, 2005). "With Buses on Board, WMATA's Smart-Card System is Ready to Go Regional". Metro Magazine. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  52. ↑ Sun, Lena H. (December 9, 2007). "Rocket (and Subway) Science: Metro Hopes Upgrade Will Make for a Smarter SmarTrip Card" . The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved December 29, 2025– via ProQuest.
  53. ↑ "Board Action/Information Summary: Migration to ISO-Standard Chip for SmarTrip" (PDF). WMATA. December 16, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Cards Expire Soon: Here's What to Do". NBC4 Washington. February 25, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  55. ↑ "As riders return, Metro customers have more ways to pay with the launch of SmarTrip for Android™ in Google Pay" (Press release). WMATA. June 8, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  56. ↑ "Project Highlights: Washington DC's record breaking upgrade to accept open loop payments" (Press release). Littlepay. May 28, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  57. ↑ Abdelhalim, Awad; Shuman, Daniela; Stewart, Anson F.; Campbell, Kayleigh B.; Patel, Mira; Pincus, Gabriel L.; Sánchez de Madariaga, Inés; Zhao, Jinhua (September 10, 2024). "Inferring mobility of care travel behavior from transit smart fare card data". Journal of Public Transportation. 26 100104. doi:10.1016/j.jpubtr.2024.100104. ISSN   1077-291X . Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  58. ↑ Chapman, Janna; Iseki, Hiroyuki; Irekponor, Victor; Alam, Md Saiful; Harvey, Chester; Liao, Mengyu; Liu, Zheng; Oshan, Taylor M. (June 1, 2025). "Changes in the determinants of travel demand for the Washington DC Metrorail system after COVID-19: Evidence from a replication study". Case Studies on Transport Policy. 20 101394. doi:10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101394. ISSN   2213-624X . Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  59. 1 2 3 4 "CharmPass". Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  60. ↑ "Fares: Student Programs". WMATA. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  61. ↑ "How to ride using the Student iRide Program". Arlington Transit. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  62. ↑ "Getting Started With Your Student Bus Pass" (PDF). Fairfax Connector. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  63. ↑ "Reduced Fare Programs". WMATA. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  64. ↑ "U-Pass Frequently Asked Questions". WMATA. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  65. ↑ "U-Pass Current Participants". WMATA. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  66. ↑ "Indemnify CVS/pharmacy for selling SmarTrip Cards" (PDF). WMATA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  67. ↑ "SmarTrip Retail Outlets: Purchase Cards and Add Value". WMATA. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  68. ↑ "Final Contract Audit Report with Recommendations" (PDF). WMATA. February 19, 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  69. ↑ "SmarTrip Program Update" (PDF). WMATA. November 6, 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  70. ↑ "Metro launches SmarTrip® Online Reload" (Press release). WMATA. September 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  71. ↑ "Metro introduces unlimited 7-day rail pass on SmarTrip®" (Press release). WMATA. April 16, 2012. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  72. ↑ "Fare Structures for Loudoun County Transit Bus Services | Loudoun County, VA - Official Website". www.loudoun.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  73. ↑ "Fares | WMATA". Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.

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