any idea when riders will be able to have funds added automatically a la EZ Pass?

From Dr. Gridlock: (For 20782)
Automatic recharging and other improvements in the SmarTrip technology are supposed to be in place by late 2008.

Here's a link to a Post story by Lena Sun about those plans:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120800737.html

I wish MTA would equip their commuter buses (Dillon's and Keller) to take SmartTrip. It would be easier than having to deal with paper Metro passes.

Dr. Gridlock, do you have any pull with MTA on this matter?

Thank you for the link.

Forget automatically linking SmarTrip to a credit card a la E-ZPass. What about just being able to add money from a credit card via the web? It's crazy that Metro can't figure how to do something like this for years.

From Dr. Gridlock: Dan, I asked MTA about that a few months ago. Maryland is very slowly developing an electronic fare card. You won't see this anytime soon on the commuter buses or MARC.

As I recall, Maryland needs to develop a card that will work on Baltimore subway, bus, light rail, commuter bus and MARC while also being compatible with SmarTrip. It's clearly taking longer than transit planners had hoped.

I also recall from earlier this year that some MD transit users who get the monthly subsidies were afraid that the move to the electronic SmartBenefits program would make it impossible for them to continue participating, since their transit systems don't accept electronic fare cards.

Metro, which administers the SmartBenefits program, assured me that the paper system would continue in 2008 for employees whose transit systems don't accept SmarTrip.

Any thoughts on how many problems there are going to be come January when all those Federal employees will start getting their metrocheck benefits at the machine as a download to their SmartTrip card? Aside from the lines as people try to figure out how to do it, and the inevitable mistakes by hitting the wrong buttons, want to bet that there won't be a glitch somehow and folks won't get credited or will be credited incorrectly?

I've been seeing a trend where exiting metrobus riders give their paper transfers to people waiting to board.

Forcing the use of SmarTrip cards will end this kind of theft.

From Dr. Gridlock: Bob, you raise a good point. Metro has been talking about having extra staff out when the new fares kick in to answer questions for riders, but the SmartBenefits conversion may be just as significant.

My personal experience: The Post converted to SmartBenefits a long time ago, but I'm still not sure I'm doing the transfer correctly at the fare machine, and I always get a paper receipt, just in case. (I've never lost money. Just not sure I'm doing the conversion in the most efficient way possible.)

"regular bus rider": Metro has seen that, too. The effort to steer people toward SmarTrip and the decision to eliminate the one-day bus pass reflect Metro's desire to control losses at the farebox.

Dr. Gridlock,

Any plans to install smart trip faremachines at the bus terminals of metro stations or at bus transit centers with no metro stations? I take metro frequently so I usually have fare on my smartrip card, but I feel like it would be more of a hassel for those who only take the bus (or take the bus but not to metro stations) to add fare. Especially at stations with a long escalator down to get to where farecard machines are located (e.g. Bethesda). And remember that while being able to add fare online by credit card is nice, this isn't always easy for all people, especially those of lower income who would be taking the bus. I bet some of those people can't get online that easily.

What would be good, and if it exists I haven't heard of it, is having a "conversion box" so you can add the credit from your current metro cards to a smart card. You could simply slip the Metro card into the slot and it automatically transfers the amount to the Smart Card and keeps the Metro card.

It would eliminate the need of people who have multiple (or many) cards with small amounts remaining on the card from having to mail them to Metro and waiting for a (hopeful) response and a card with the consolidated amount. Is it a necessity? Of course not. Would it be useful? Of course.

Jeff, you can already do that. Just go to a faremachine where you can add value to a smartrip card. Tap the card and select "Add Value." Then just put in the farecard that has remaining money in the slot on the righthand side. That value will be added to your smarttrip card and the fare machine will keep the paper farecard. You can only do one papercard at a time though. So you have to tap your card again to add the value and then repeat the process for each paper fare card.

Also, if you go to this website you can find out all the ways to add value to a smartrip card.

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/recharge_smartrip.cfm

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