Arlington Transit Blog

Free SmarTrip® Card Exchange for Seniors, Disabled

If you are a person with a disability or a senior citizen using a regular SmarTrip® card, you could save 50% on your bus and rail fares. Exchange your regular SmarTrip card for a Senior SmarTrip card or a Reduced Fare SmarTrip card for FREE at Metro Headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8
Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 22

Please bring photo identification (valid Metro Disability ID Card, completed application for the Reduced Fare Program for People with Disabilities, proof of age 65 or older). These events are being held for the sole purpose of exchanging an undamaged, regular SmarTrip card for a Senior SmarTrip card or a Reduced Fare SmarTrip card. For any other concerns or questions about SmarTrip(r), please call 1-888-SMARTRIP (TTY 703-620-8782) or visit MetroOpensDoors.com.

No Paper Transfers, Ever!

When I learned that Metro was eliminating paper transfers, I was reminded of the famous line from "Mommie Dearest" where Faye Dunaway portraying Joan Crawford storms into her daughter's room after discovering a dress hanging on a wire hanger and yells "No wire hangers, ever!" Metro isn't being that dramatic, but "No paper transfers, ever!" pretty much sums up Metro eliminating paper transfers starting January 4, 2009. In an effort to save money and eliminate abuse, Metro is ending paper transfers and trying to get everyone to use a SmarTrip card. Arlington Transit (ART) is also eliminating paper transfers in conjunction with Metro's move.

Using a SmarTrip card has its advantages -- no fumbling for change, speedier boarding, automatic fare deduction for transfers, a 10-cent discount on regular fares and if you register the card, you can get it replaced with your value on it if you lose it. One disadvantage, however, is that bus only riders have limited options when it comes to adding money to their cards. You can add money at the bus farebox, but that can slow down the boarding process and there is a learning curve to figuring out how it works.

ART will have buses parked at various locations in Arlington on January 5, 6, 7 and 8 to demonstrate how to use the farebox to add value. Riders can also go to any Metrorail station and add value at the vending machines; or in Arlington, riders can buy a SmarTrip card and add value at any Commuter Store. Metro just announced that they are partnering with CVS to sell SmarTrip cards for $10 ($5 for the card preloaded with $5 value). However, you can't add value to a SmarTrip card at CVS. 

On January 4, bus riders using a SmarTrip card for a trip with a transfer to a bus will pay $1.25; paying cash will cost $2.70. Bus riders can also use the $11 Weekly Metrobus pass. As part of paper transfers ending, the transfer time period has been extended from 2 hours to 3 hours. There will also be a 50-cent discount on bus to rail transfers and rail to bus transfers using a SmarTrip card.

Change is never easy. Let's hope for everyone's sake that this change goes smoothly and "no paper transfers, ever" will not be a big deal.

Bobbi Greenberg is Marketing Director for Arlington County Commuter Services in Arlington County's Department of Environmental Services

Record Numbers Board Arlington Transit in 10th Year of Service

Arlington Transit ridership increased 33 percent in July over the same month last year – a record jump in ridership for the service.

During the 2008 fiscal year (July 2007 to June 2008), ART ridership rose to over 1.2 million with a significant increase in passengers that began in April and continued through July despite the typically slower summer months. The County attributes the growth to higher gas prices and the addition of larger, more rider-friendly buses introduced to the fleet in 2007.

“The demand for ART service reinforces the County’s efforts to provide multiple transit choices that are affordable, reliable and convenient for everyone,” said J. Walter Tejada, Arlington County Board Chairman.  “We will continue to explore those options that best meet the community’s transit needs and support our nationally-recognized Smart Growth strategy.”

County adding higher capacity buses and new route

The County is taking steps to maximize existing resources and expand service to accommodate the ever-growing number of riders. Twelve new, higher capacity buses have been ordered to replace aging vehicles in the fleet. Scheduled to be deployed in spring 2009, these heavy-duty vehicles are powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which produces fewer harmful greenhouse gas emissions. They will have low floors for easier access and more seats to increase capacity. Once the new buses arrive they will work existing routes and a new route - the ART 77 - which will serve the Courthouse, Clarendon and Shirlington villages.

“The ART 77 route will provide a much-needed connection between North and South Arlington, linking major County service and employment centers,” said Chris Zimmerman, Arlington County Board Member. “The addition of this route, along with the new ART buses, promises to make the commute easier for our riders, and will help attract new ones.”

Background

Now celebrating its 10^th year of service, ART continues to grow. Since its inception in 1998, annual ridership has grown from 100,000 to over one million riders annually. ART weekday service includes 12 routes that supplement the regional Metrobus and Metrorail transit system.

Visit www.ArlingtonTransit.com to learn more about ART; receive up to-the-minute information on fares and schedules; or to find out more about the County’s innovative transit solutions.

Welcome

As the Arlington Transit Bureau Chief and on behalf of all of us who work at Arlinton Transit, I want to welcome you to the new ART Blog.  We welcome your comments and suggestions about what we are doing well and what we can do to better serve you. 

As some of you may know, ART is now clelbrating its 10th year of providing local bus service to the community.  Thanks to your support, we have grown to more than a million annual passengers in the last year.   We are excited about ART's future, and we look forward to working with you as we strive to bring you better service and more transit options.

Steve Del Giudice