Metrochek Changes

Effective December 1, 2008, Metrocheks will be discontinued and replaced with SmartBenefits® vouchers. With SmartBenefits® and SmarTrip®, employee participants may pay fares on numerous providers with just one card. The following area transit providers accept SmarTrip®:

• ART - Arlington Transit
• CUE - Fairfax City
• DASH - Alexandria Transit Company
• DC Circulator
• Fairfax Connector
• GEORGE Bus
• Loudoun Commuter Bus Service
• Martz/National Coach
• PRTC - Serving Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park
• Ride On - Montgomery County Transit Services Division
• TheBus - Prince George's County

The SmartBenefits® vouchers cannot be loaded onto a SmarTrip® card and they are not redeemable for cash. Employees may use SmartBenefits® vouchers on regional transit systems that have not adopted the SmarTrip® fare payment system: Virginia Railway Express (VRE), MARC Rail, and MTA commuter buses (Eyre, Dillon's, and Keller). SmartBenefits® vouchers will be available in three separate denominations:

$1
$10
$30

How to use remaining Metrocheks

• Transfer unused Metrocheks of any value onto SmarTrip® card at the passes/farecards machines.
• Used Metrocheks valued less than $7 can be transferred to SmarTrip® card at the passes/farecards machines.
• Metrocheks work like regular farecards in the Metrorail system.

Employers, if you have remaining Metrocheks, give them to newly enrolled employees who can transfer the value to a SmarTrip® card to pay their transit fare.

Press release "New changes for Metrocheks begin April 1" dated March 19, 2009

SmartBenefits® vouchers will only be available for purchase through an established employer SmartBenefits® Web account. Employers, apply for your SmartBenefits® account today.

Important Date

March 31, 2009: Last day for Metrochek exchanges at Metro sales offices