Metro Lift expands to Arlington Transit, increasing affordable travel options for customers

In a step forward for simplifying fare payment within the region, Arlington Transit (ART) now accepts Metro Lift reduced-fare benefits on all ART bus routes as of July 1, 2026, creating a more seamless and affordable transit experience for low-income customers. 

Metro Lift provides eligible customers, such as those receiving SNAP benefits, 50% off fares on Metro Rail and Metro Bus. Since launching three years ago, Metro has worked with regional transit providers to expand acceptance of the program and make public transportation more accessible and affordable across the Washington metropolitan area. ART is the first of Metro’s regional partners to adopt Metro Lift. 

"Metro Lift helps ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing jobs, education, healthcare, and other destinations," said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. "ART's participation strengthens our shared commitment to providing a seamless regional transportation experience and makes it easier for customers to travel throughout the region using affordable, integrated transit services." 

This policy change supports the goals of the regional DMVMoves initiative, which seeks to improve connectivity and create a more integrated transportation network across the DMV. Since the program launched in 2023 to July 1, 2026 — 18,700 customers have enrolled. 

“Ensuring reliable access to essential services and employment and educational opportunities is critical to keeping our region running. I applaud Arlington Transit and WMATA for their agreement on Metro Lift, which helps advance our DMVMoves vision for more seamless, integrated, world-class transit,” said Clark Mercer, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.   

"The adoption of Metro Lift reflects Arlington Transit’s commitment to delivering a more affordable, seamless, and customer-focused experience through leveraging a regional partnership with WMATA,” said Pierre Hollman, Chief of Arlington Transit. “Metro Lift will allow us to provide eligible participants with travel options to help connect them to various opportunities throughout Arlington." 

“Arlington is proud to be the first regional partner to adopt Metro Lift”, said Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti. “Not only will this change streamline user experience, but it also furthers our commitment to reducing and eliminating roadblocks to low-income residents looking for an affordable and reliable way to get around our community. We are incredibly thankful for our continued partnership with WMATA in this shared mission.”   

Arlington County's current Low-Income Fare Program was established during the COVID-19 pandemic and relies on manually distributed, pre-loaded Smart Trip cards. Transitioning to Metro Lift will streamline program administration while providing customers with a consistent reduced-fare experience across multiple transit systems. 

Metro estimates ART's participation in Metro Lift will generate approximately 8,000 additional transit trips and provide about $21,000 in customer fare savings during the first year of implementation. Arlington County estimates that replacing its existing program with Metro Lift will reduce administrative and operating costs by approximately $550,000 during Fiscal Year 2027. 

The transition follows approval by the Arlington County Board on May 16, 2026, authorizing ART to adopt Metro Lift and phase out its existing Low-Income Fare Program, which was concluded on June 30, 2026. 

Customers interested in learning more about Metro Lift eligibility and benefits can visit wmata.com/metrolift. 

About Metro

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider, serving a population of approximately four million people across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia within a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction. With a network of six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and a door-to-door paratransit service, Metro is the second busiest transit system in the United States serving 268.9 million trips in 2025 with a $5 billion operating and capital budget. Since 2022, Metro has completed multiple transit-oriented development projects that have brought $15 million in tax revenue to the region from housing, office, and retail space in our community.  Safety and security are core values at Metro. Over 30,000 cameras monitor the system, and Metro currently has the lowest crime rate in history with fare evasion on rail and bus declining. In 2025, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named Metro the Transit Agency of the Year in recognition of industry-leading ridership growth, record high customer satisfaction, a newly redesigned Bus network, expanded rail service, and improved customer experience.