Contactless transit card system used in the Washington, D.C. metro area
SmarTrip
Location
Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area
Launched
May 18, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-05-18)
Technology
Mifare Plus X
Operator
Cubic Transportation Systems
Accenture
Manager
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Currency
USD ($300 maximum load)
Validity
Washington Metro, Metrobus
DC Circulator
Arlington Transit
CUE Bus
DASH Bus
Fairfax Connector
Loudoun County Transit
OmniRide, OmniLink, OmniMatch
Ride On
TheBus
Baltimore Metro Subway, Baltimore Light RailLink
MTA Maryland bus service
Retailed
Metro Sales Offices
Commuter Stores
Retail Outlets
Variants
CharmCard
Website
https://www.smartrip.com/
SmarTrip is a contactless stored-value smart card payment system managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) uses a compatible payment system called CharmCard. A reciprocity agreement between the MTA and WMATA allows either card to be used for travel on any of the participating transit systems in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Unlike traditional paper farecards or bus passes, SmarTrip/CharmCard is designed to be permanent and reloadable; the term "SmarTrip" may refer to both payment systems unless otherwise noted.
WMATA began using SmarTrip for payment on Metrorail in 1999 followed shortly by Metrobus and Metro parking lots. It was later extended to other public transit systems throughout the region. Although WMATA initially drew criticism due to the limited number of SmarTrip sales locations, distribution has expanded to local convenience stores and supermarkets. By late 2012 all Metrorail stations were equipped with SmarTrip vending machines.[1]
In October 2010, WMATA announced that it was working on a replacement card system because the company that makes SmarTrip cards had stopped producing the existing generation.[2] A new generation of the card with modernized chip technology was launched in 2012.[3] Beginning in 2021, the first-generation SmarTrip cards are being phased out as new faregates are installed that do not support the earlier technology.[4]
In 2014, WMATA began a pilot program with Accenture to revamp the SmarTrip payments, with the goal of an open payment system working with contactless credit cards, government IDs, new transit cards, and more. However, the pilot was terminated and the full proposal was cancelled due to lower-than-expected mobile payment adoption and budget constraints.[5]
Instead, in 2018, WMATA announced that contactless mobile payments would be coming to Metro, this time through a closed system that emulates the physical smart card and works with current fare collection equipment. The reduced scope of the project lowered costs dramatically, while constraining users to loading a balance on a SmarTrip account instead of paying directly from a credit/debit card.[5] Mobile payments through Apple Pay were added in 2020, with Google Pay support following in 2021.[6][7]
Since March 6, 2016, SmarTrip cards are the only payment method accepted on Metrorail; paper farecards are no longer valid.[8]
^Lazo, Luz (November 6, 2012). "All Metro stations now have SmarTrip vending machines". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
^Schultz, David (October 15, 2010). "Metro Board: Replacing SmarTrip Will Be Difficult". WAMU. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
^Weir, Kytja (May 28, 2012). "Metro to get new, cheaper SmarTrip cards this fall". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
^"Metro begins phasing out older SmarTrip cards as part of upgrades to faregates and fare payment technology | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^ abRepetski, Stephen (April 17, 2018). "Metro Reasons: Metro hopes to bring mobile and phone payments by 2019". ggwash.org. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Paper Farecard Elimination". Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
SmarTrip is a contactless stored-value smart card payment system managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The Maryland Transit...
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United States) Hop Fastpass (only in Portland, Oregon, United States) SmarTrip (only in Washington, D.C., United States) TAP (only in Los Angeles, California...
a fare capping program in 2003, shortly after the introduction of the SmarTrip fare card. WMATA concluded that it could implement fare capping on Metrobus...
card, SmarTrip. As such, CharmCard can also be used to pay fares for Metrobus, Metrorail, and local bus services in the DC area. Likewise, SmarTrip is accepted...
the two services and enjoy a $0.50 discount if they use an electronic SmarTrip card. Those transferring between any two Metrorail lines can change trains...
on Route 480 (fare is round-trip); and $7.50 on Route 599. Fares are paid in cash (exact change), or WMATA issued SmarTrip card. As of February 2023[update]...
Metro adopted the SmarTrip fare care program the same year, Anacostia was one of three stations chosen to experiment with SmarTrip fare gate express lanes...
calendar month. A PugetPass is valid for payment of trip fares up to the value of the pass. Trip fares above the value of the pass may be paid with E-purse...
through other Android-based mobile wallets or via their own apps (e.g. SmarTrip for Google Wallet or TAP for Android). In addition, Samsung Pay does not...
Bus rapid transit Metroway Other topics Metro Transit Police Department SmarTrip List of stations Incidents Rolling stock Signaling and operation Purple...
to utilize a SmarTrip, it will lengthen their commutes because it will be difficult and potentially expensive to find and use a SmartTrip machine unless...
present.[citation needed] On the Washington Metro, riders process their SmarTrip cards for both entering and exiting the system. The fare is actually deducted...
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