Metro faregate replacement project underway with new and improved faregates fully installed in two stations

Work is also underway to replace the faregates at 13 additional stations, with new faregates being phased in as they are completed and ready for service. Eastern Market and Forest Glen are expected to be completed within the next week. That will be followed by the completion of Friendship Heights, Crystal City, Capitol South, the north entrance of Union Station, Arlington Cemetery, National Airport, and Addison Road in the coming weeks. New faregates have also been installed during the summer platform improvement project at Greenbelt, College Park, Prince George’s Plaza, and West Hyattsville, which reopen September 7. 

Construction is taking place overnight during non-business hours to avoid disruption to customers entering and exiting the stations. The work requires removing the decades-old faregates, running new cables, upgrading power infrastructure where necessary, and installing new kiosk equipment before the new faregates can be installed. At some stations, faregates will need to be brought in one at a time using a special lift on the escalator. Following installation, the units will undergo comprehensive testing prior to being put in service. 

SmarTrip cards produced in 2012 or earlier contain chip technology that is incompatible with the new faregates, and those cards will need to be replaced to access the Metro system. To determine if your card needs to be replaced, visit wmata.com/cardreplacement. 

Metro will be installing new faregates in all 91 existing and 6 new stations. For additional schedule information, visit Metro’s faregate replacement project page. Customers may also sign up for MetroAlerts to receive notifications when stations are scheduled for replacement.