WASHINGTON — Good news for Metro riders 65 years and older, WMATA announced it will be eliminating the $2 fee on Senior SmarTrip cards.
The new policy will go into effect in the new year on January 16.
Metro says that as part of its ongoing commitment to expand access and affordability to public transit, the Senior SmarTrip program will now join all other Metro reduced fare programs in offering SmarTrip cards at no additional cost.
Currently, SmarTrip cards can be purchased at kiosks inside any train station. The card does have a $2 fee to purchase which is deducted from the amount you apply on the card.
Eliminating the $2 fee removed the need for a third-party payment collection. Metro also believes this decision will improve the customer enrollment experience and create new partnerships to distribute the cards in the region.
SmarTrip cards were first introduced back on May 18, 1999, by WMATA. The smart card was created as a contactless form of payment to ride the Metrobus and train. SmarTrip was what Apple Pay is for many of us today, over two decades ago.
RELATED: Metro adds 24/7 bus service in DC
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