Metro to release 50th anniversary Smart Trip cards from September through November

Metro continues to celebrate our 50th year of service with the release of five commemorative Smart Trip card designs that honor the five decades of Metro. The gold-tinted cards offer customers a new way to take part in Metro's golden anniversary.

Starting Thursday, Sept. 24, a new card design will be released every two weeks. About 20,000 of each card design will be available at select stations. You can track their availability at wmata.com/metro50. At this year’s holiday pop-up shop, customers will be able to purchase a special Metro-branded Smart Trip and trading card collecting book to store their collection.

Multiple cards will be available at some stations, so look for a sign on top of the fare vending machines to see which card design is available in a particular machine.

“Metro's 50th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on how far transit has come, and the role Metro has played in transforming mobility across the National Capital Region," said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. "These commemorative Smart Trip cards highlight key moments from each decade of our history, and we invite customers to join the celebration by collecting them and sharing in the story of Metro's first 50 years.”

Sept. 24 release: The 1970s

The 1970s card features an image of the installation of an iconic Metro pylon, and the background features architect Harry Weese’s renowned waffle-vaulted ceilings in a rail station. 

Available at these stations: 

• Downtown Largo
• Friendship Heights
• Gallery Place–Chinatown
• King St-Old Town
• Metro Center
• Pentagon City
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• Rosslyn
• Union Station
• Washington Dulles International Airport
• Wheaton
   

Oct. 8 release: The 1980s

The 1980s card features construction crews that helped build the crossing under the Potomac River. 

Available at these stations:  

• Eastern Market
• Foggy Bottom-GWU
• Fort Totten
• Gallery Place–Chinatown
• L'Enfant Plaza
• McPherson Sq
• Metro Center
• Mt Vernon Sq
• New Carrollton
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• Vienna
• Washington Dulles International Airport

Oct. 22 release: The 1990s

The 1990s card highlights a tunnel boring machine that helped carve through rock to build some of the deepest subway stations in the Western Hemisphere. 

Available at these stations:  

• Anacostia
• Branch Av
• Columbia Heights
• Fort Totten
• Gallery Place–Chinatown
• Greenbelt
• L'Enfant Plaza
• Mt Vernon Sq
• Navy Yard-Ballpark
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport

Nov. 5 release: The 2000s

The 2000s card features the Metro Rail map in the background, marking the 2001 completion of the originally planned 103-mile, 83-station system, along with a bus highlighting Metro’s connectivity across the region.  

Available at these stations:    

• Ashburn 
• Downtown Largo 
• L'Enfant Plaza 
• Metro Center 
• New Carrollton 
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 
• Rosslyn 
• Smithsonian 
• Tysons 
• Washington Dulles International Airport 
• Wiehle-Reston East 

Nov. 19 release: The 2010s and beyond 

The 2010s card displays the 7000-series train, which debuted in 2015 and has become Metro’s safest, most reliable train.  

Available at these stations:   

• Branch Av. 
• Fort Totten 
• Franconia-Springfield 
• Glenmont 
• Huntington 
• L'Enfant Plaza 
• Metro Center 
• New Carrollton 
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 
• Union Station 
• Vienna 
• Washington Dulles International Airport 

Visit wmata.com/metro50th for more historical timelines, photos, and archival materials.