Fare System Modernization

As ridership continues to increase, Metro is making major infrastructure investments to improve and modernize the customer experience, including upgrading fare system technology - from our Metro Rail faregates and exit fare machines to our Metro Bus fareboxes.

We are replacing and upgrading all rail and bus payment systems over the next several years, as part of the Capital Improvement Program, providing customers with more options for contactless payment, faster transaction processing and improved customer reliability.

Projects

Swing-door-style barrier to deter passengers from climbing over barriers

In summer 2021, Metro kicked off a yearlong project to replace all faregate payment cabinets across the Metro Rail system with modernized units that include enhanced safety features, larger updated displays, and faster processing.

We also took action to decrease fare evasion. After testing modifications to our existing faregates, we are retrofitting all faregate doors to reduce fare evasion.

Metro made a multimillion dollar investment by upgrading and replacing all 1,200 Metrorail faregate cabinets across the 98 rail stations in our system. New technology enable customers to wave their SmarTrip® cards more quickly and enable gates to be entered in either direction when clear.

We're Taking Action.

We also heard your concerns about fare evasion and, over the next several months, we are installing higher, more secure faregates. Fare evasion accounts for approximately $40 million in estimated revenue loss each year and we are committed to minimizing that loss and investing those funds in the safety and reliability of our service.

In addition to our "Pay the Fare" warning campaign in fall 2022, we continue to advance numerous efforts to reduce non-payment, including communication, education, issuing citations, and faregate modification.

Pilot Program at Fort Totten Station

In spring 2023, Fort Totten was chosen as a testing pilot for multiple reasons, including its high rate of fare evasion and its ability to accommodate additional faregates without compromising the footprint of the station. A number of prototypes, including one ADA gate with swing gates, were tested. The resulting design was finalized in July.

Diagrams of existing designm pilot prototype, and final modification installation.

All 98 stations across the Metro Rail system now have more secure, retrofitted faregates to deter fare evasion. The improvements have led to an 82% drop in fare evasion in the Metrorail system.

Learn more

In 2023, we began upgrading Metro Bus fareboxes and garage equipment. The new bus farebox features larger, brighter displays, faster processing of bills and coins and continue to offer quick and contactless payment for Smart Trip and mobile customers.

We're improving and modernizing your experience on Metro Bus.

Through next summer, we're upgrading Metro Bus fareboxes across the entire fleet-approximately 1,600 buses that serve customers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Our new fareboxes and separate Smart Trip card readers:

Process coins and bills faster
Have larger, brighter, and full color display for better visibility
Are more reliable due to technology upgrades and separate equipment

Green, "Tap here!" signs will signal customers to new location of the Smart Trip reader-keep an eye out for the new symbol.

The fareboxes are also receiving a software upgrade on a rolling basis to make sure the system runs smoothly.

New way to add value to your Smart Trip card

There's a new way to add money to your Smart Trip Card-and you can also check your balance.

To add money to a Smart Trip card:

Press +
Tap Smart Trip card to reader
Insert $/¢
After adding $/¢ press O
Tap Smart Trip card to reader again

Bills, coins, and approved tokens continue to be accepted at the farebox.

Installation Timeline:

June 2023	Farebox installations began
October 2023	New fareboxes installed on 25% of Metro Buses
Winter 2023/2024	New fareboxes installed on 50% of Metro Buses
Summer 2024	Installation complete

In July 2023, Metro finished replacing approximately 3,000 short-term parking meters with 60 pay stations, providing customers with more convenient and modernized payment options, similar to modern pay stations being deployed on city streets.

Read the press release here