Frequently Asked Questions

DC Student Passes (10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass) on SmarTrip® enabled DC One Cards

• What is a SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card and how does it work?
• Where can I get my SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card?
• What is a Pass?
• Who can purchase a 10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass?
• What is a 10-Trip Metrorail Pass?
• What is a 10-Trip Bus Pass?
• What is a Monthly Bus/Rail Pass?
• How much do the 10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail pass cost?
• How do I add the Passes?
• Where can I use the pass?
• What happens if I need to travel outside the District of Columbia?
• What is “negative value” and how does it affect my student pass?
• How do I add Stored Value to my SmarTrip® Card?
• Can my SmarTrip® card hold more than one pass?
• What if my SmarTrip® card has both Stored Value and a Pass?
• What if I ride a Metro Express or Airport Express Bus?
• What is the replacement policy if I report a lost, stolen or defective card with an active Ten Trip Metrorail Pass, Ten Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass on it?

What is a SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card and how does it work?

A SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card is an identification card issued by the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Technology Officer (DC OCTO). The SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card contains a permanent, rechargeable farecard just like a regular Metro SmarTrip® card. The card is embedded with a special computer chip that keeps track of the value of the card – its Stored Value. The computer chip can also track purchases of special transit products, called Passes. A SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card can contain Stored Value for regular travel and up to five (5) Pass products for reduced fare travel in the Metrobus and Metrorail system.

Using a SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card is fast and easy. Instead of inserting a farecard through the Metrorail faregate slot, you simply touch the SmarTrip® card to the circular targets on top of or inside station faregates. Likewise, you can tap the SmarTrip® farebox on Metrobus to pay your fare with SmarTrip®.

Where can I get my SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card?

The SmarTrip® enabled DC One Card is currently the standard school ID for all DC Public School (DCPS) secondary school students. Secondary school students must obtain their DC One Cards from their school’s designated ID administrator. Other transit subsidy eligible DPCS primary school students can obtain their DC One Cards from any DC One Card Customer Service Center (see www.dconecard.dc.gov  for locations and hours of operation).

What is a Pass?

A pass is a special transit product that can be purchased for reduced bus and rail travel. The 10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass are all transit passes that are available to eligible District students for purchase on SmarTrip® enabled DC One Cards.

Who can purchase a 10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass?

DC students in possession of a valid DDOT approved Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility Letter. The letter will include a Photo ID matching the student’s DC One Card and a barcode that will be verified by Metro Sales offices staff.

What is a 10-Trip Metrorail Pass?

The 10-Trip Metrorail Pass is available to eligible DC students. The pass provides 10 trips on Metrorail only. The pass validity period begins the first time it is used and is valid until the 10- trips are exhausted.

What is a 10-Trip Bus Pass?

The 10-Trip Bus Pass is available to eligible DC students to ride on regular (non-express) Metrobus routes and DC Circulator. The pass validity period begins the first time it is used and is valid until the 10-trips are exhausted.

What is a Monthly Bus/Rail Pass?

The Monthly Bus/Rail Pass is available to eligible DC students for unlimited rides on Metrorail, regular Metrobus routes and DC Circulator.

Regular School Session (September to June) Monthly Bus/Rail Pass products are available between the months of August – June. (Begin August 16th – End June 15th)

Summer School Session (July and August) Monthly Bus/Rail Pass products are available between the months of June – August. (Begin June 16th – End August 15th)

• • Initial or Renewal purchase of a Regular Session or Summer Session pass at the Metro Sales Office on or before the 15th of the month will be valid for use within that month.
  • Initial or Renewal purchase of a Regular Session or Summer Session pass at the Metro Sales Office on or after the 16th of the month will be valid for use in the next month.

How much do the 10-Trip Metrorail Pass, 10-Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail pass cost?

How do I add the Passes?

MONTHLY BUS/ RAIL PASS SALES PROCESS

• • The first time you buy a Monthly Bus/Rail Pass using your DC One Card, you must visit a Metro Sales office with a Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility letter.
  • You can renew an unexpired Monthly Bus/Rail Pass at any Farecards & Passes machine (located in every Metrorail station entrance) or at a Metro Sales office.
  • Monthly passes expire at the end of every calendar month. Make sure to renew before the end of the month or you must return to a Metro Sales office with a Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility letter again.

For locations, please visit MetroOpensDoors.com  or call Metro Information at (202) 637-7000.

PURCHASE STEPS:

1. 1. Show your DC One Card and your DDOT approved Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility Letter to the sales clerk at any Metro Sales Office window.
   2. The sales clerk will verify that your DC One Card and your eligibility form are valid.
   3. Tell the sales clerk the type of pass that you want to add to your card.
   4. Present payment method to the sales clerk.
   5. The sales clerk will process payment and add the pass to your card.
   6. Receive your card with pass added from the sales clerk.

RENEWAL STEPS:

Follow the printer-friendly instructions from the document, DC One Card for student travel on Metrorail and Metrobus ^[PDF].

PURCHASE STEPS:

1. 1. Show your DC One Card and your DDOT approved Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility Letter to the sales clerk at any Metro Sales Office window.
   2. The sales clerk will verify that your DC One Card and your eligibility form are valid.
   3. Tell the sales clerk the type of pass that you want to add to your card.
   4. Present payment method to the sales clerk.
   5. The sales clerk will process payment and add the pass to your card.
   6. Receive your card with pass added from the sales clerk.

For locations, please visit MetroOpensDoors.com  or call Metro Information at (202) 637-7000.

Where can I use the pass?

Within the District of Columbia and at Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, Naylor Road, Southern Avenue, and Capitol Heights stations.

What happens if I need to travel outside the District of Columbia?

Your pass will not work outside the District of Columbia or at the stations noted above. You must have additional money loaded on your card (stored value) and will be charged the regular adult fare for your trip.

What is “negative value” and how does it affect my student pass?

If you use your DC One Card without a student pass loaded on it, or travel outside of the District, you will be charged the regular adult fare for your trip. The Metrorail system will allow you to exit one time if you don’t have enough money loaded on your card for that trip, and the balance on your card will become negative.

Once your card has negative value, you cannot renew a monthly pass. You will have to pay the negative amount in addition to the cost of your pass in order to renew or purchase a new pass.

How do I add Stored Value to my SmarTrip® Card?

You can add value to your SmarTrip® card at a Metro Sale Center Office, Farecards & Passes Machines or online at www.WMATA.com . Value added at the Metro Sale Center Office or Farecards & Passes Machines to your card will be available immediately and can be used to purchase passes for use inside the District or for regular adult fare travel outside the district. Value added online will be added in 48-72hrs and can be used to purchase passes for use inside the District or for regular adult fare travel outside the district.

Can my SmarTrip® card hold more than one pass?

You can purchase no more than two of a single type of pass. One will be active, the second will be ready to activate when the first one expires.

What if my SmarTrip® card has both Stored Value and a Pass?

This is OK, and you might want to keep some stored value on your card for use outside of DC. The bus farebox and rail faregates will first see if you have a pass and if not your stored value will be used at the adult fare rate. If there is a combination of a pass product and stored value, the pass will be read first and the base fare will not be deducted from stored value.

What if I ride a Metro Express or Airport Express Bus?

The 10-Trip Metrorail, 10-Trip Bus and the Monthly Bus/Rail passes are not valid for use on Metrobus express or Airport Express routes. The full fare on these routes will be deducted from the stored value on the card stored value.

What is the replacement policy if I report a lost, stolen or defective card with an active Ten Trip Metrorail Pass, Ten Trip Bus Pass and Monthly Bus/Rail Pass on it?

You will receive a prorated refund based on how many trips or days you already used up. You have to register your card in order for this to work! If you lose a card that is not registered, you can’t receive any refunds.

• • Register your card online: https://smartrip.wmata.com/AccountCreate/AccountCreate.aspx .
  • Only students with registered cards can contact the SmarTrip hotline via phone (888)-762-7874 or email: smartrip@wmata.com to report a damaged, lost or stolen card.
  • Metro will cancel the card to stop any future use until you can obtain a replacement card. Metro cannot provide replacement cards.
  • You must work with your school to obtain a replacement DC One Card.
  • After you receive your replacement DC One Card, register the new card immediately and contact the SmarTrip hotline again.
  • Metro will perform a balance transfer of all stored value and add a prorated refund for all passes to the replacement card’s stored value account.
  • You will not receive replacement passes, only the money value of the passes. To buy student passes, you have to follow all the original steps including obtaining a Student Transit Subsidy Eligibility Letter and visiting a Metro Sales office.