Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 16, 2009

Reload SmarTrip® cards at select CVS/pharmacy and Giant Food stores

More locations make it easier, more convenient to add value to cards

Customers at select CVS/pharmacy and Giant Food stores now can add value to their SmarTrip® cards at the same time they check items off their shopping lists.

Metro and local retailers have made it more convenient for busy riders to add value to their SmarTrip® cards by installing the small, portable devices to process SmarTrip® transactions at more than 100 local retail outlets.

Metro and CVS/pharmacy stores began offering customers the ability to reload their SmarTrip® cards at 106 CVS locations in April. Giant Food has started to test the sales devices at eight area stores. If the test is successful, Giant will add 42 more locations later this summer. Customers may use cash or credit cards to add value at these locations.

CVS/pharmacy, Giant Food, transit and other retail stores that offer customers the in-store ability to add value to SmarTrip® have either a decal at the door or signs announcing its availability. A list of stores where customers can reload their SmarTrip® cards is on Metro’s Web site at http://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/smartrip_load.cfm.

Riders also can add value to SmarTrip® cards on all Metrobuses, at Passes/Farecards machines in every Metrorail station, and at 20 transit and independent stores. Riders loading value on Metrobuses can use cash or Metrobus tokens only. Other locations, including fare machines in rail stations, accept cash or credit and debit cards.

“Expanding the number of places where people can add value to their SmarTrip® cards is an added convenience for riders and a growing necessity as more and more people use SmarTrip® on transit in the region,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

There are 1.7 million active SmarTrip® cards or cards that have been used in the past six months. Approximately 58 percent of Metrobus trips and 72 percent of Metrorail trips are now paid with SmarTrip®.

SmarTrip® is accepted on Metrobus, Metrorail, in Metro parking facilities, and on ART, CUE, DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC OmniRide, TheBus and DC Circulator.

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Media contact for this news release: Cathy Asato or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.

News release issued at 1:21 pm, June 16, 2009.