Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 2, 2005

Customers Reminded to Have Enough Value on SmarTrip Cards to Pay Full Parking Fees at Metro-Operated Lots

As a reminder, parkers at Metro-operated parking facilities must have enough value on their SmarTrip cards to pay the full parking fees to exit or enter the parking facilities.

Currently, and until March 14, the system allows a negative balance that automatically adjusts when a customer adds fare to his or her card. Beginning March 14, the gates at a Metro parking facility will open only if a customer has enough value on his or her SmarTrip card to pay the required parking fee. If there is not sufficient value, parkers must return to the Metrorail station and add value to the card at vending machines with SmarTrip targets.

Daily parking fees in Metro garages and lots range from $2.50 to $4 and are deducted from SmarTrip cards as the daily fee at lot entrances or exits. At 33 stations, customers pay for parking as they leave. Six facilities require payment upon entry.

Customers are advised to check their SmarTrip card balance as they exit Metrorail stations or pay their Metrobus fares. Fare balances on the cards are displayed on faregates upon exiting. Customers also can see the remaining balance by tapping their cards on the SmarTrip target on vending machines.

To remind customers about the need to have sufficient value on their SmarTrip cards to pay for parking, Metro will post new reminder signs in garagesnear the entrances and exits, and in elevators and stairways. Signs also will be posted at faregates and above SmarTrip vending machines in Metrorail stations. Metro will distribute fliers to parkers starting March 7 that emphasize the same message and provide instructions on how to add value to SmarTrip cards. Notices will be mailed, e-mailed, posted on www.metroopensdoors.com and broadcast over the public address system.

On March 14, Metro will have additional staff at key stations, particularly end-of-the-line stations where large numbers of commuters use the parking facilities. These individuals will install signs, distribute fliers, answer customer questions and assist customers with adding value to SmarTrip cards.

Customers can add value to their SmarTrip cards at the Passes/Farecards machines in all 86 Metrorail stations and on SmarTrip fareboxes found on Metrobuses. They simply tap their cards to SmarTrip target, insert the amount of money they want on the card, then tap the card to target once again to complete the transaction. Customers also can trade in paper farecards or use debit or credit cards to reload their SmarTrip cards at the Passes/Farecards machines in stations.

SmarTrip cards can hold up to $300 in value so that customers can go long periods of time without having to add value. SmarTrip can be used to pay fares on Metrorail and Metrobus, and is the only way to pay for parking at Metro-operated lots.

Customers are urged to register their SmarTrip cards to guarantee the value on the card when it is reported lost, stolen or damaged. Registration can be done by mail using forms available in Metrorail stations, at selected transit sales sites, including Metro Center, or online. Online registration at metroopensdoors.com is the easiest and fastest way to register. If a registered card is lost, the customer will not lose the value on the card. For a $5 replacement fee, Metro will issue the customer a new card and download the value left on the card at a SmarTrip vending machine within four to seven business days.

For more information about SmarTrip, visit www.metroopensdoors.com.

News release issued on March 2, 2005.