What is SmarTrip®?
SmarTrip is a rechargeable farecard that you can use on many public
transportation systems throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and
the District of Columbia including Metrorail and Metrobus. Having
one farecard makes bus and train transfers easy, and with SmarTrip
there’s no need to carry bus tokens or worry about having exact
change for your fare.
Where Can I Get a SmarTrip Card?
Your SmarTrip card will cost $5 to purchase. Some sales locations sell
cards with pre-loaded amounts already on them; therefore, the cost would be $5
plus the pre-loaded amount. You may purchase a SmarTrip card
at:
- The PRTC Transit Center, 14700
Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA.
- These Giant grocery stores in Manassas (and other locations in
the DC Metro area):
- Westgate Plaza, 8025 Sudley Road
- Manassas Junction, 8819 Centerville Road
- Wellington Station, 10100 Dumfries Road
- Vending machines in Metro stations with large parking facilities,
including Franconia – Springfield, West Falls Church and
Vienna Metro Stations.
- Online at SmarTrip.com or CommuterPage.com.
- Metro sales offices and commuter stores (see list in schedule
brochures). For locations, call (888) 762-7874 or visit
SmarTrip.com.
How Do I Register My Card?
SmarTrip cards must be registered in order to receive SmartBenefits
or to have value from a lost, stolen, or damaged card transferred
to a new card. To register your card, visit SmarTrip.com. If
you purchased your card online or by mail, it is already registered.
How Do I Pay My Fare?
- Each passenger must have their own SmarTrip card.
- Simply touch your SmarTrip card to the SmarTrip target on top
of the electronic farebox. The appropriate fare will be automatically
deducted from your card.
- OmniRide and Metro Direct passengers who pay with a SmarTrip
card receive discounted fares.
- All passengers may pay with cash ($1, $5, $10 or $20 bills and
coins - no pennies).
- OmniLink passengers may pay with tokens.
- Those who qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses must pay with
cash or with a Senior (65+)/Disabled SmarTrip card (available through
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) in order to
receive the discount.
- Local bus Day Passes must be paid for with cash.
- OmniLink off-route surcharges must be paid for with cash.
How Do I Pay a Reduced Fare?
PRTC offers reduced fares all day on OmniLink and Cross County
Connector buses, and during non-peak hours (9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and
after 7 p.m.) on OmniRide and Metro Direct buses. Passengers
qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses if they are at least 60 years
old, or if
they have a disability or a valid Medicare card. Riders eligible
for reduced fares on PRTC buses must pay with cash or
with a WMATA-issued Senior (65+)/Disabled SmarTrip card.
If you have a WMATA-issued Senior (65+)/Disabled SmarTrip card,
simply tap your card to the SmarTrip target. The farebox on
PRTC buses and on all other regional carriers will automatically
deduct the reduced fare, if applicable. For more information
about Senior (65+)/Disabled SmarTrip cards, please call (202) 962-1558
or visit this page on Metro’s website: www.wmata.com/accessibility/fares.cfm.
How Do I Make a Transfer with a SmarTrip Card?
When making a transfer, whether between PRTC buses or between a
PRTC bus and another regional transit provider, the electronic farebox
will calculate and automatically deduct the correct fare from your
SmarTrip card. Transfers must be made within 2 hours of boarding
to receive credit. All PRTC transfer rules apply, including:
- No local bus to local bus transfer credit, except between the
PRTC Transit Center and Potomac Mills Mall – operator will
issue a paper transfer.
- No credit will be given when transferring between PRTC buses
and Metrorail.
How Do I Add Money To My SmarTrip Card?
To load value on the bus:
- Before you tap your card to the target, push the ADD VALUE
button on the farebox. (If you touch the card to the target
prior to pushing the ADD VALUE button, the farebox will deduct
your fare).
- Touch your card to the SmarTrip target.
- Insert cash $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills or coins (no pennies)
to load up to a maximum of $300 total value on the card. To
prevent delays, please limit on-board loading of your card to three
bills.
- Touch your card to the SmarTrip target again to upload the value.
- Touch your card once more to deduct the fare for your trip.
To load value at a Metrorail station using a Passes/Farecard machine,
follow the machine instructions. You may load value to your
SmarTrip card using MetroCheks, Metrorail paper farecards, credit
cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), and ATM/debit cards.
To check the available balance on your SmarTrip card, push the CHECK
VALUE button before you tap the card to the target. Your card
balance will appear on the display screen.
What If I Have a Problem With My SmarTrip Card?
If you have trouble using your SmarTrip card on the bus, you will
have to pay for your trip with cash. If you have questions
or problems using your SmarTrip card, contact Metro at (888) 762-7874
or visit SmarTrip.com.
Where Can I Use a SmarTrip Card?
Along with PRTC, these regional carriers also accept SmarTrip:
- ART – Arlington County
- CUE – Fairfax City
- DASH – Alexandria
- DC Circulator
- Fairfax Connector
- Loudoun County Transit
- Metrorail and Metrobus
- Ride On – Montgomery County
Can I Transfer My SmartBenefits to My SmarTrip Card?
Those receiving SmartBenefits – the electronically paid transit
benefit provided by some employers – can quickly download their
monthly benefit at Metrorail stations using a Passes/Farecard machine. With
SmartBenefits, your monthly benefit is loaded onto your registered
card in one transaction, eliminating the time spent feeding bills one-by-one
into the electronic farebox or having to use a credit card to load
value. Visit SmarTrip.com for more information on downloading
benefits.
Learn more about SmarTrip and SmartBenefits:
(888) 762-7874
Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SmarTrip -- www.SmarTrip.com
SmartBenefits -- www.MetroOpensDoors.com
click “SmartBenefits” under the “Quick
Links”
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