WMATA proposing to integrate passes into Smartrip cards

[CKD]

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=1056

Nice idea from WMATA, but the poster definitely has it wrong about the passes being little-known.  This also begs the question of when WMATA is going to phase in disposable paper SmarTrips and why they are slow to increase the accessibility of purchasing plastic SmarTrip cards.  It seems everywhere you go in NYC, you can find a place that sells a MetroCard.

[rideonrulez]

Another problem I'm finding with Smartrip is that not all the fare machines at the stations accept them. So for example 2 fare machines accept them the other 10 don't!! So if I'm in a rush and don't feel like standing in line to refill my smartrip, I'll just get a paper farecard where there is no line. WhyMATA.....

[79MetroExtraMD]

About time. This should have been done already. I'm wondering when they'll integrate the Bus Weekly pass.

Another problem I'm finding with Smartrip is that not all the fare machines at the stations accept them. So for example 2 fare machines accept them the other 10 don't!! So if I'm in a rush and don't feel like standing in line to refill my smartrip, I'll just get a paper farecard where there is no line. WhyMATA.....

Except for Morgan Boulevard. I think they should have a layout in the stations where all of the TVMs have Smartrip targets to streamline the process. I hate waiting for someone with cash paying for a farecard at the only Smartrip enabled TVM. Just like you have Smarttrip Express faregates, we need Smartrip Express TVMs.

[Tristan]

Metro has addressed both of those issues...remember the farecard machine overhaul plan from mid-to-late 2007 to add SmarTrip vending to all machines?

[79MetroExtraMD]

Oh yea. I forgot about that. I hope the initial part of that overhaul starts soon.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

They should have the machines that dispense SmarTrip cards at the stations with parking at every station.

I got a disposable smart card when I was in Rotterdam (and also in Amsterdam, but I wasn't able to figure out where it was valid for use) as part of the new OV-Chipkaart system they are introducing in phases to replace the Strippenkaart.  They work well, and Rotterdam IIRC actually charges more for a single ride with the disposable card than a real one under the assumption regular users have the latter (so WMATA could institute a system like SEPTA where people with real Smartrip cards get a discount).  I do wonder though if disposable Smartrips will spell the end to paper farecards for WMATA. 

Chris, I agree with you about not having enough machines to handle Smartrip transactions.  I've had to wait to refill countless times because all 3 machines at Friendship Heights were in use.  At least they have 3 now instead of 2.

[Scrabbleship]

This should have been done years ago when SmarTrip first came along! Aside from intergrating the weekly bus flash-pass into SmarTrip, maybe WMATA should look at expanding (or reviving) some passes. I'll let one of the replies to that blog post explain why:

Passes (as opposed to fares) are wonderful if you're interested in seeing the success of transit in general through habit-forming adoption of transit at every opportunity - New York understands this, and prices their weekly pass less than TWO daily passes would cost.

The value of a bigger network is high as well - a $10/day, $25/week, $60/month(subscription only) pass to *all* public mass transit in the greater Washington area would be attractive and maybe even cost-effective, given the few people who will heavily load multiple lines. The freedom of movement in remote environs is one of the most attractive factors of car-ownership.

$60/month times a family of five is much less than a car payment & insurance & gas & maintenance, while that type of subscription base would be a huge guaranteed income source for WMATA.

There is no excuse for WMATA to NOT offer any sort of monthly passes or a joint bus/weekly pass or even a joint daily bus/rail pass. Offer some option for $20-25/week or $80ish/month for unlimited (local) buses and Metro rides under $2.35 and WMATA's money woes might be slightly diminished.

[79MetroExtraMD]

This should have been done years ago when SmarTrip first came along! Aside from intergrating the weekly bus flash-pass into SmarTrip, maybe WMATA should look at expanding (or reviving) some passes. I'll let one of the replies to that blog post explain why:

Passes (as opposed to fares) are wonderful if you're interested in seeing the success of transit in general through habit-forming adoption of transit at every opportunity - New York understands this, and prices their weekly pass less than TWO daily passes would cost.

The value of a bigger network is high as well - a $10/day, $25/week, $60/month(subscription only) pass to *all* public mass transit in the greater Washington area would be attractive and maybe even cost-effective, given the few people who will heavily load multiple lines. The freedom of movement in remote environs is one of the most attractive factors of car-ownership.

$60/month times a family of five is much less than a car payment & insurance & gas & maintenance, while that type of subscription base would be a huge guaranteed income source for WMATA.

There is no excuse for WMATA to NOT offer any sort of monthly passes or a joint bus/weekly pass or even a joint daily bus/rail pass. Offer some option for $20-25/week or $80ish/month for unlimited (local) buses and Metro rides under $2.35 and WMATA's money woes might be slightly diminished.

Last I heard, there was a monthly bus pass some years ago but they discontinued it because of low revenue generated from it. Ride On is about to institute a monthly pass and I wish Metro would do the same. A 30 dollar monthly pass wouldn't be all that bad and might hopefully be integrated into Smartrip.

[Tristan]

DASH's monthly pass is $30...Metro's would certainly be more.

Scrabble, there was a Metrobus 28-day pass that, as 79ME said, wasn't a cash cow for WMATA, so it was discontinued.  You're right that the pass system needs an overhaul, but to preserve the universal acceptance of these passes, WMATA is waiting for everyone to get up and running on SmarTrip (PG is holding things up but is actually moving for a "Summer 2008" installation) before switching passes to that medium...probably about the same time that paper transfers are to be eliminated (January).

[Scrabbleship]

The only problem with waiting for PG is how long PG would drag their heels in compliance.

Just out of curiosity, when there was a 28-day pass how much was its cost vis a vis to the 7-day pass? I've read that there are certain economies in play with passes and their cost, namely the cost of a weekly vs. 7-dailys or a monthly vs. 4-weeklies.

[Tristan]

I'll look on some older timetables and see if I can find out and also what the cost of a weekly pass was then to make the comparison, unless someone else can do so sooner than I can (some time tonight).

[79MetroExtraMD]

I'll look on some older timetables and see if I can find out and also what the cost of a weekly pass was then to make the comparison, unless someone else can do so sooner than I can (some time tonight).

How far back do you want? I might be able to look on the wayback servers to see if there are any old schedules that made it on there.

[Tristan]

Back to when the 28-day pass was still around.  I believe it was eliminated with the fare increase to $1.20 in 2004...or was it 2003?

[79MetroExtraMD]

Back to when the 28-day pass was still around.  I believe it was eliminated with the fare increase to $1.20 in 2004...or was it 2003?

Metrobus 28-Day Pass: $40
Metrobus Express 28-Day Pass: $70
http://web.archive.org/web/20020806183511/http://www.wmata.com/riding/passes.cfm#Metrobus

[Tristan]

Thanks for that link, 79ME.  For comparison, the weekly pass was $10...no savings at all.