SmarTrip
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The SmarTrip card is a plastic contact-less stored-value smart card used for payment within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system in Washington, D.C. Unlike traditional paper farecards, SmarTrip is designed to be permanent and reloadable, and as of 2004 can be used in all Metrorail stations and on all Metrobuses. SmarTrip is the primary way to pay for parking fees at Metro-operated lots. SmarTrip can also be used on nearly all other local public transit systems in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
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[edit] Overview
SmarTrip cards are roughly the same size as a credit card or driver's license. The card is touched to a circular target on the top or side of each exit gate rather than inserted into a slot, affording some speed and convenience over the paper farecard. Additionally, it is usually not necessary to remove the card from a wallet or purse before touching the Smartrip target. In the Metrorail system, touching the card will display the value remaining as the faregate opens, both when entering and exiting. On Metrobuses, the farebox will audibly beep and display the value. In all cases, the appropriate fare is deducted automatically, accounting for any applicable transfers and discounts.
In an effort to reduce fraud and waste, Metro announced in October 2008 that it would be eliminating paper transfers effective January 4, 2009. All riders who wish to take advantage of reduced-fare transfers will be required to pay using SmarTrip.[1]
The cards can be purchased at vending machines within many Metrorail stations, at Metro sales offices, select retail stores, and online. The purchase price includes $5 for the card itself plus an initial fare value, which varies depending on where they are purchased: cards purchased at stations cost $10 ($5 for the card and $5 fare value), while those purchased online cost $30 ($5 for the card and $25 fare value). The cards can be reloaded using farecard vending machines or using cash at fareboxes onboard buses. Riders may also add value to their SmarTrip cards by trading in paper farecards. SmarTrip can store up to $300 in value.
As the Exitfare machines currently do not accept SmarTrip, riders with insufficient value to pay their fare are allowed to exit the system with a negative balance. This negative balance must, however, be paid before the card may be used again to enter the system. One may not exit a Metro parking facility with a negative balance on the SmarTrip card; the card must contain sufficient value to pay the full fee in order to exit the Metro parking lot.
A microchip contained within the card stores its value, as well as the rider's most recent entry and exit points, and a unique identifier. However, the unique identifier is not linked to a person's name or identity, unless one registers their cards online. Registering SmarTrip cards allows riders to recover their remaining balance (minus the $5 replacement fee), should the card be lost, stolen, or damaged. The unique identifier also allows workers enrolled in the SmartBenefits program to receive their monthly benefit automatically to their SmarTrip card.
The SmarTrip system was built and designed by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic Corporation.
[edit] Design
On the front of the standard SmarTrip card is a stylized picture of a Metrorail car and Metrobus in front of representations of the Washington Monument, United States Capitol, and stylized versions of classical architecture found in Washington, D.C. The Metro logo appears in the bottom left. A "Senior" SmarTrip is also available that automatically calculates applicable discounted fares for senior citizens (age 65+). The design is identical to the standard SmarTrip except that the card is printed in shades of bright yellow and brown, instead of blue and green. Since the Senior SmarTrip allows for discounted fares, the card may only be purchased in person with a valid ID from a Metro sales office or authorized vendor.[2]
The first promotional SmarTrip card was issued in 2008 to commemorate the opening of the newly-built Nationals Park baseball facility. In November 2008, Metro announced a new SmarTrip card design commemorating the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.[3]
[edit] Criticism
The primary criticism of the SmarTrip cards is that they are only sold at suburban Metrorail stations, online, a few select retailers, and Metro sales offices. This has effectively prevented a large number of users, especially Metrobus riders, from being able to obtain a SmarTrip card. In 2008, Metro reached an agreement with CVS/pharmacy to sell the cards at 187 DC-area locations in an effort to increase SmarTrip use.[4]
A number of SmarTrip features that were supposed to be introduced in 2005 by SmarTrip's creator, Cubic Transportation Systems, have yet to be implemented.[5] Riders can currently only add value to a SmarTrip card at Metrorail stations or by using cash while boarding a Metrobus. In November 2008, after years of delays, WMATA announced that customers will have the ability to add funds to their SmarTrip cards online by September 2009. In addition, the system will have the ability to automatically add funds to SmarTrip accounts using a credit card by December 2009.[6]
All trips made with a SmarTrip card, with the exception of bus transfers, are charged as individual one-way fares. WMATA offers discounted rail and bus passes to customers who make several trips in one day, or many trips in a seven-day period; however, riders must purchase the pass in the form of a paper farecard. This is in contrast to the Oyster card system on the London Underground, for example, where fares are automatically capped to ensure that customers never pay more than the cost of a one-day pass each day. WMATA has announced that SmarTrip should have the ability to calculate discounted rail and bus passes by September 2009.[6]
[edit] Parking
In a controversial move, WMATA announced that as part of a new cashless parking payment system, SmarTrip would be the only way to pay for parking at Metro-operated garages and lots effective June 28, 2004, after reports of widespread theft by Metro's parking contractor, Penn Parking.[7]
The decision prompted complaints that Metro was inconveniencing its many customers, including tourists and other infrequent users, who did not own a SmarTrip card. In April 2007, WMATA began testing the use of credit cards to pay for parking at six Metro stations, avoiding the need to pay for parking with SmarTrip cards at those stations. The sites are Anacostia on the Green Line, Shady Grove on the Red Line, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and New Carrollton on the Orange Line, and Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center on the Blue Line.[8] One exit lane at each station accepts credit card payments through a reader next to the existing SmarTrip card target.[9]
[edit] Participating systems
| System[10] | Transit Authority | Service Area |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Metro (Rail and Parking) | WMATA | Washington Metropolitan Area |
| Metrobus | WMATA | Washington Metropolitan Area |
| DC Circulator | DC government, WMATA, First Transit | Washington, D.C. |
| Arlington Transit (ART) | Local government | Arlington County, Virginia |
| CUE Bus | Local government | City of Fairfax, Virginia |
| DASH Bus | Alexandria Transit Company | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Fairfax Connector | Veolia Transportation | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Loudoun County Commuter Bus | Local government | Loudoun County, Virginia |
| OmniRide, OmniLink, OmniMatch | PRTC | Prince William County, Virginia, Manassas, Virginia, and Manassas Park, Virginia |
| Ride On | Local government | Montgomery County, Maryland |
| TheBus | Local government | Prince George's County, Maryland |
[edit] References
- ^ "Elimination of paper transfers in January 2009 FAQ". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/faqs/preview.cfm?faqID=47. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.
- ^ "Metro Senior SmarTrip Card". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. http://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/senior.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-11-21.
- ^ Alarkon, Walter (2008-11-20). "Obama's Mug on D.C. Subway Cards for Inauguration". The Hill. http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/11/20/obamas-mug-on-dc-subway-cards-for-inauguration/. Retrieved on 2008-11-21.
- ^ "Indemnify CVS/pharmacy for selling SmarTrip Cards" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. http://wmata.com/board_gm/board_docs/112008_Admin4100208CVSSellSmarTrip.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.
- ^ "Final Contract Audit Report with Recommendations" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2008-02-19. http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/CubicReportFinal.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.
- ^ a b "SmarTrip® Program Update" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2008-11-06. http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_of_directors/board_docs/110608_SmarTripupdaterev1.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.
- ^ "For Your Benefit: Metrorail SmarTrip Cards". This Week @ CUA. Catholic University of America. 2004-05-30. http://thisweek.cua.edu/archive_view.cfm?issue=94. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ "Metro Unveils Credit Card Parking Lot Payment Pilot Program". WUSA-TV. 2007-03-29. http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57059. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ "Parking at Metrorail Stations". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. http://www.wmata.com/rail/parking/. Retrieved on 2008-12-11.
- ^ "SmarTrip users to gain added benefit when transferring". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2008-11-24. http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2353. Retrieved on 2008-12-12.
[edit] External links
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