Metro’s SmarTrip card costs $5, too much for some riders to make the switch from paper farecards.
But riders could get a similar and compatible card for half the price.
The Maryland Transit Administration charges $2.50 for its CharmCard intended for the Baltimore transit systems. But that card can be used on the Metro system and the Washington region’s public bus systems just like a SmarTrip card.
The plastic cards cost both the MTA and Metro about the same amount: $3.40 per card. Metro chose to charge riders $5, while Maryland charges $2.50.
The MTA decided it was worth subsidizing 90 cents for each card to help encourage riders to use the cards. The reloadable plastic cards have lots of advantages, MTA spokesman Terry Owens said, including saving the state money on paper farecards.
But Metro has kept the cost at $5, even after the board of directors voted to drop the price in June 2010. Now the agency is considering dropping the price again as it gets a cheaper version of the cards this fall.
Some agencies cover the full cost of the card and give out their cards, such as Boston’s T gives away its CharlieCards.
So is anyone already taking advantage of the price difference locally and buying a CharmCard just to use it on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority?
“We were aware of the potential for abuse and agreed early on with WMATA to monitor sales and to date have seen no evidence that people are buying CharmCards for use on WMATA,” Owens said.
