Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 31, 2008

Opportunities to purchase SmarTrip® cards extended as card sales spike

Increase coincides with the elimination of paper transfer and introduction of two-way transfers

Metro has seen a spike in SmarTrip® card sales over the past week as riders rush to purchase the electronic fare card before Jan. 4, when Metro eliminates paper transfers and introduces two-way transfers for Metrorail and Metrobus riders.

To meet the increased demand for the cards, Metro will expand sales opportunities at two of its busiest sales offices at Metro headquarters (600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C.), and at Metro Center (12th and F Street entrance).

On Friday, Jan. 2, the Metro headquarters sales office will stay open two extra hours until 5 p.m. The normal sales hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional personnel will be working at the sales office to speed up sales and assist customers waiting in line.

In addition, next week Monday through Friday, Jan. 5-9, tables exclusively for SmarTrip® card sales will be set up at Metro headquarters and Metro Center. The additional sales table at Metro headquarters will be open for business from noon to 3 p.m. At the Metro Center sales office, the SmarTrip® card sales table will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SmarTrip® cards also can be purchased on Metro’s Web site, at Metro sales offices at Metro Center, the Pentagon, Anacostia and Metro headquarters, at the Northern, Western, Landover, Royal Street and Four Mile Run Metrobus divisions, from vending machines at Metrorail stations that have parking facilities, at regional transit stores and at select Giant and 190 CVS stores.

News release issued at 1:42 pm, December 31, 2008.