Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 17, 2013

Metro announces weekend opportunities to buy Inauguration SmarTrip Cards


Customers encouraged to purchase in advance to avoid lines on Monday

Updated: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 12:27 p.m.

The Commemorative Inaugural SmarTrip® card has sold out at all sales locations. 

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Metro will sell Commemorative Inaugural SmarTrip® cards at nine busy stations this Sunday and will offer special Saturday hours at two Metro Sales Offices to provide additional opportunities for Inauguration travelers to purchase their SmarTrip card in advance.

On Saturday, the Metro Sales Office at Metro Center Station will be open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., and the sales office at Anacostia Station will be open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Both offices are normally closed on weekends.

On Sunday, Metro will sell $15 Commemorative Inaugural SmarTrip cards, featuring an image of President Obama, between 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the following nine stations:

  • Branch Avenue
  • Franconia-Springfield
  • Glenmont
  • Greenbelt
  • Largo Town Center
  • New Carrollton
  • Shady Grove
  • Union Station
  • Vienna

The reusable plastic card comes pre-loaded with a One-Day Pass that provides unlimited travel on Metrorail on the day it is used. At $15, the card is $4 less than the cost of purchasing a new SmarTrip card and One-Day Pass separately. As an added bonus, the card can be used as a "flash pass" for unlimited Metrobus travel on Inauguration Day.

After the one-day pass is used, the Commemorative cards may be reloaded and used like any other SmarTrip.

Metro strongly recommends that all Inauguration Day travelers purchase their Farecard or SmarTrip card in advance to avoid long lines on Monday. Each traveler age 5 or older needs his or her own card to enter and exit the Metrorail system.

On Thursday and Friday, the cards will be available at Metro Sales Offices and regional transit stores during regular hours. Below is a list of locations and hours of all Metro Sales Offices:

Metro Headquarters (Main Entrance)
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC
Open weekdays 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Metro Center Sales Office
12th and F Street, NW (Metro Center station)
Washington, DC
Open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Metro Pentagon Sales Office
Pentagon Transit Center
Upper level bus bay
Arlington, VA
Open weekdays 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Northern Metrobus Garage
4615 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC
Open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Anacostia Sales Office
Anacostia Metrorail Station, Mezzanine Level, Bus Bay Exit
1101 Howard Road, SE
Washington, DC 20020
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Standard (non-comemorative) SmarTrip cards and Farecards can be purchased at any Metrorail Station.

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SmarTrip® is a registered trademark of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

News release issued at 9:57 am, January 17, 2013.