The School Transit Subsidy Program provides reduced fares for District students who use Metrobus, Metrorail, or the Circulator to travel to and from school. Right now, students are eligible to purchase a monthly pass for $30 – good for travel within the District and boundary Metrorail stations (e.g., Southern Avenue, Silver Spring, Capitol Heights, Friendship Heights, and Naylor Road), 10-trip rail pass with the same restrictions as the monthly pass for $9.50, electronic 10-trip bus pass for $7.50 – DC One Card only, and a pack of 10 bus tokens for $7.50.
This program serves students attending a DCPS school, Charter and Private Schools as well as students participating in educational programs in the District. Prior to 2011, all students were required to get an application from their school, have it submitted to the DDOT’s school transit subsidy office, and then received a plastic punch card to purchase fare media at one of Metro’s sales offices 
Metro Center Rail Station, Metro Headquarters Sales Office, Anacostia Metro Station, Northern Bus Garage. In an effort to streamline and improve access to the transit benefit, DDOT decided to use the DC One Card with Smartrip technology as a means to obtain the benefit with going through the paper process.
The DC One Card is a single identification card that gives students access to DC government programs and facilities, recreation centers, libraries, and the Metro. DCPS students in grades 6 through 12 will automatically receive a DC One Card at school. Other students can obtain their card by visiting one of the DC One Card Customer Service Centers and the card will be delivered to the student's school.
In 2011, DDOT phased in the DC One Card for students attending a DCPS school and identified four Charter Schools to participate in a pilot program. DDOT is actively working with stakeholders to phase in the DC One Card for all Charter School and Private School students, so they can realize the benefits of this card currently enjoyed by DCPS students.
DOWNLOAD: Instructions for Renewal [PDF]
If you do not renew your monthly pass by the 30/31st of each previous month, then you have to take a copy of your eligibility letter to the Sales office to purchase your pass.
UPDATE: As part of a limited pilot program starting on Monday, March 4, Giant Stores in DC will allow students with a DC One Card (DCPS students) to renew their 10-trip bus pass only. Students must have at least one unused trip on their DC One Card. This pilot program will end on July 1, 2013. If this program is successful, then DDOT will extend the program for the rest of the year and notify students through their school and this website.
DOWNLOAD: Giant Food Store Pilot Program [PDF]
For DCPS schools that have been phased in to the DC One Card student pass program
Students at schools that have been phased in must use their DC One Card to enroll online and purchase and renew passes at Metro Sales Offices. As of January 2012, all DCPS schools are participating with the DC One Card student pass program. Once the change applies to a school, students will be able to access the School Transit Subsidy Program by following these simple steps.
The DC One Card is a single identification card that gives students access to DC government programs and facilities, recreation centers, libraries, and the Metro. DCPS students in grades 6 through 12 will automatically receive a DC One Card at school. Other students can obtain their card by visiting one of the DC One Card Customer Service Centers and the card will be delivered to the student's school.
For schools that have not yet been phased in to the DC One Card student pass program
Until these changes apply to a school all transit subsidy application paperwork and cards will be handled directly at the school level. Schools will be providing and collecting the applications. Students and parents must work directly with their school representative to apply for the program. DDOT is targeting the second half of 2013 to include public charter, parochial, and private schools in the DC One Card transit pass program.
Please Note: DDOT can no longer handle walk-in applications at our offices. Schools must submit applications directly to DDOT by mail, email, or fax. DDOT will process the applications and return student travel cards to the school, or make the cards available for pickup by a school representative.
Program Qualifications
District law mandates that in order for students to receive discounted travel on Metrobus and Metrorail they must meet all of the following qualifications:
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- Under 19 years of age with the exception of student with disabilities who are eligible until 22 years of age.
- Resident of the District; and
- Enrolled in an elementary or secondary public, charter, private or parochial school that is located in the District of Columbia.
- If students are in an internship program during the summer, the internship program must be non-paid. Students being paid to work do not qualify for summer travel subsidies.
Related Information
Other relevant information about the School Transit Subsidy Program can be found below.
Documents and News:
PRESS RELEASES
INSTRUCTIONS
SCHEDULE
MISCELLANEOUS
Contact Us
For additional information about the School Transit Subsidy Program, please call (202) 673-1740.
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