Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 26, 2004
SmarTrip card sales events scheduled to ease transition to SmarTrip parking lot system
Metro officials will be selling SmarTrip cards directly to customers at a series of special SmarTrip Card sales events in an outreach effort to get the payment cards into the hands of parking lot users. Metro parking lots will accept SmarTrip-only payments beginning June 28. Approximately 75 percent of Metro customers currently use SmarTrip to pay for their parking. In an effort to get the other 25 percent to begin using the handy SmarTrip cards, Metro officials are trying to make it as simple as possible to pick one up. Metro representatives will be selling the cards for $5 from stations as follows:" May 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Greenbelt" June 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. at New Carrollton" June 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Branch Avenue" June 10 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Shady Grove" June 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Glenmont" June 16 and 17 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.at Vienna/Fairfax-GMU" June 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Franconia-Springfield" June 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Huntington (Huntington Ave. side)" June 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Greenbelt SmarTrip is a rechargeable farecard that can be used to pay for parking, Metrorail rides, and some Metrobus routes (soon expanding to all Metrobuses). The card is plastic" like a credit card" and is imbedded with a computer chip that keeps track of the value of the card and facilitates electronic communications with SmarTrip " targets." Customers simply tap the SmarTrip card on the target to enter or exit the parking lot; the parking fee is deducted from the card and the gate is lifted, allowing the car to enter or exit the lot or garage. SmarTrip cards cost $5 each. Customers may add up to $200 in value on a SmarTrip card, so it can last a long time between charging. In addition to the special sales events listed above, SmarTrip is available for purchase by cash or credit/debit card at any of three Metro sales offices; via mail through an order form available at all station kiosks; at any of 11 commuter stores; at select Giant Food stores; at any of six specific Metrobus divisions; or online at http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm. SmarTrip sales locations are also available online or by calling 202-637-7000. If someone loses a SmarTrip card, they don" t lose the value. For a $5 fee to replace the card itself, Metro will reissue a new SmarTrip card with the value on the card at the time the customer notified officials that it was lost. For this valuable replacement feature, customers must register their card, either at the point of purchase, via the mail or online. Currently, customers who park in Metro-owned parking lots pay if they exit the parking lots between 2 and 10 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. However, starting June 28, the payment hours will be expanded from 9 a.m. until closing Mondays through Fridays. Weekend and Federal holiday parking at Metro lots will remain free.
News release issued on May 26, 2004.