Metro Pass and Farecard Options

• Metrobus Passes
• Metrorail Passes and Farecards
• Student Fares
• SmarTrip® Card
• Transit Link Cards

Metrobus Passes

The Weekly Bus Pass has been replaced with a 7-Day Regional Bus Pass that is loaded onto your SmarTrip® Card. Unlike the Weekly Bus Pass that was valid for a calendar week, when you load the new 7-Day Regional Bus Pass onto your SmarTrip® Card, it's activated the first time you use it and it's valid for seven consecutive days. And the cost is the same: $15 for the regular 7-Day Regional Bus Pass and $7.50 for the Senior/Disabled 7-Day Regional Bus Pass. The 7-Day Regional Bus Pass can be loaded onto your SmarTrip® Card at any Metro Sales Office, regional transit store or select retail outlets. View a complete list of sales locations here.

Metrorail Passes and Farecards

You need a pass or farecard to ride Metrorail. All Metrorail passes are gate-activated. The faregate activates the pass the first time it is used and prints the last valid date on the pass. Farecards contain a set value. Trip values are subtracted from the farecard upon exiting the station.

One Day Pass $9
Pass is valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and some federal holidays (unlimited Metrorail travel begins after 9:30 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day). Pass expires at the end of the operating day: 3 a.m. on weekends, midnight on weeknights.

7-Day Short Trip Pass $32.35
Pass is valid for seven consecutive days for Metrorail trips costing up to $3.25 from 5-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on weekdays. If the trip costs more than $3.25, you must use the Exitfare machine to pay the additional fare. The pass is valid for any rail trip at other times. The pass will be returned for continued use during the valid period.

7-Day Fast Pass $47
Pass is valid for seven consecutive days of unlimited Metrorail travel.

Metrorail Farecards
Farecards hold from $1.60 to $45. Farecards are available at fare vending machines in Metrorail stations or online in $10 or $20 denominations.

Student Fares

Metro student fares are for elementary and secondary school students who live and go to school in the District of Columbia. Student fares are sold at Metro sales offices and selected schools in the District of Columbia. Students must obtain a DLT Application from their school or Office of Mass Transit to be certified to purchase student fares. For more information, contact the Office of Mass Transit's School Transit Subsidy Program at 202-673-1740.

SmartStudent Pass $30
Pass is valid for a month of unlimited travel on Metrobus and Metrorail for school or school-related events. See eligibility requirements and list of schools that sell SmartStudent passes.

DC Student Farecards $9.50
Pass is valid for 10 trips on Metrorail.

DC Student Tokens $7.50
Student tokens are good for one ride on regular (non-express) Metrobus routes and are sold in packs of 10 (each token has a value of 75¢). To ride express buses using tokens, riders must pay the difference between the regular and express fare.

SmarTrip® Card

The SmarTrip® card is a permanent, rechargeable farecard that can hold up to $300 in Metrobus, Metrorail, and Metro parking value. The card costs $5 and can be recharged like a farecard. For more information, see the SmarTrip® page.

SmarTrip® Card
The SmarTrip® card can be used for fares on Metrobus or Metrorail and to pay for parking at Metro-operated parking lots.

Disability SmarTrip® Card
This special SmarTrip® card is valid for reduced fares at all times while riding Metrobus and Metrorail. You must have a Disability ID card to order this product.

Senior SmarTrip® Card
The uniquely colored card is valid for reduced fares at all times while riding Metrobus and Metrorail. For more information, see the Senior SmarTrip® Card page.

Transit Link Cards

Transit Link Cards (TLC) work like a monthly pass on MARC and VRE or MTA Commuter Buses and also give you unlimited Metrorail rides for a full month. The TLC also covers full fare on regular Metrobus rides and is valid wherever Metro runs in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. TLC cards are available from MARC, VRE, CommuterDirect, MTA and at the Commuter Stores at Ballston, Rosslyn, and Crystal City.

Please note that TLC cards are not available at the Metro Sales Offices.

What is a MARC TLC?   

• Allows unlimited monthly use of MARC as well as the Washington Metrorail System (WMTA) including weekend travel.  MARC Train operates Monday through Friday only.
• Valid for the base fare on WMATA's Metrobuses in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia.
• As with any MARC Train monthly ticket, you can use your TLC to ride Montgomery County RIDE ON buses and Maryland MTA Local Buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, and Neighborhood Shuttles.
• More information can be found here.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the TLC is only $102.00 more than the cost of your MARC Train monthy ticket.  MARC Train fares can be found here.

Commuter Bus Transit Link Card (TLC)         

• MTA Commuter Bus monthly pass and get unlimited Metrorail rides all month too!
• You can also use your TLC Card to ride Montgomery County RIDE ON buses and WMATA’s Metrobuses.
• More information can be found here.

For details about the TLC card, call MTA/MARC at 1-800-325-RAIL (7245), VRE at 703-413-4287 or Metro at 202-637-7000.