Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 5, 2010
Metro extends SmarTrip® reach to area universities
SmarTrip® cards now sold at American University campus bookstore
Metro is making it easier for area university students to take advantage of SmarTrip® convenience and savings with cards now being sold at the American University campus bookstore. Later this year, SmarTrip® users will be able to add value to their cards at the store.
American University joined the University of Maryland in bringing the SmarTrip® convenience to its campus. Earlier this year, the University of Maryland purchased 5,000 SmarTrip® cards for distribution to incoming freshman students.
About 78 percent of Metrorail riders and 68 percent of Metrobus riders use SmarTrip®, according to the latest statistics available. SmarTrip® cards improve service for customers by speeding up the time it takes to pass through Metrorail faregates or board a Metrobus.
“Many universities in the Washington region are Metro accessible and we want to encourage students to take Metro as their preferred method of transportation,” said Chris Zimmerman, Chairman for Metro’s Customer Service and Operations Committee and a graduate of American University. “Using a SmarTrip® card to pay for fare will save students money every trip they take.”
Metrorail riders who pay their fare with a SmarTrip® card instead of a paper farecard save 25 cents per trip. Metrobus riders who pay with SmarTrip® instead of cash save 20 cents per trip.
SmarTrip® card users also receive a discount of 50 cents when transferring between Metrobus and Metrorail. Bus-to-bus transfers with a SmarTrip® card are valid for free, unlimited transfers within a two-hour period on regular Metrobus and regional bus routes, including ART, DASH, DC Circulator, CUE, Fairfax Connector, Ride On and TheBus.
SmarTrip® cards are available for purchase throughout the Washington region from more than 300 retail outlets such as Giant and CVS/pharmacy. In addition to retail outlets, SmarTrip® cards may be purchased online, at Metro sales offices and commuter stores and through vending machines at all Metrorail stations where Metro-operated daily parking is available.
SmarTrip® card users are encouraged to register their SmarTrip® card online so that if their card is lost, they won’t lose the stored value. Metro recently launched an enhanced SmarTrip® web site to allow customers to conveniently view their card balance and usage history, add multiple cards to their account, report a lost card, request a replacement card or transfer the balance to another registered card.
News release issued at 10:29 am, November 5, 2010.