Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 19, 2013

Metro changes Exitfare requirements to facilitate new lower price of SmarTrip

This release has been updated.

The cost of a new SmarTrip card will drop to $2 on October 1, making the reusable, reloadable, more convenient fare payment option available to even more people. Riders purchasing a SmarTrip card at a Metrorail station vending machine or CVS store will still pay $10, but the card will come loaded with $8 in value rather than $5 today. Riders will be able purchase a card for $2 with no pre-loaded value at any Metro Sales Office or commuter store and selected Giant and Safeway stores.

To facilitate the lower price, effective October 1, riders will no longer be able to exit the Metrorail system with a negative balance lower than $1.50. Anyone whose SmarTrip balance is lower than negative $1.50 will be directed to the Exitfare machines inside the station to add more value to the card. Exitfare machines accept cash only ($1, $5 and $10 bills, as well as coins); they do not accept debit or credit cards.

Metro has upgraded Exitfare machines at all stations to allow for SmarTrip transactions.

In advance of this change, Metro is encouraging all SmarTrip users to sign up for Auto Reload, the "set it and forget it" feature that automatically adds value to the card whenever the balance drops below $10. For more information, visit wmata.com/autoreload.

As a reminder, riders must have a balance of at least $1.20 to enter the Metrorail system ($0.35 for Reduced Fare customers).

Metro is steadily transitioning away from the use of 1970’s-era magnetic paper farecard technology. The machinery necessary to process paper farecards is outmoded and includes an intricate system of rollers, printers, sensors, and wiring that is difficult and time consuming to maintain when compared to the contactless SmarTrip technology.

Later this year, Metro expects to award a contract for a new fare payment system – in addition to SmarTrip – that will allow riders to pay for their trip by tapping their next-generation mobile phone, credit card or debit card at the fare gate.

News release issued at 11:57 am, September 19, 2013.