The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is upgrading its fare payment system and fare gates, which means SmarTrip cards issued prior to 2012 will stop working due to their old chip technology.
With the new update scheduled for later this year, Metro’s fare gates will operate faster and more efficiently.
The transit agency is offering a number of options for its customers to be able to easily switch to a new SmarTrip card.
To replace your card in-person, you can visit the Metro Sales Office located at the Metro Center Station Tuesday through Thursday from 8am-12pm.
Click here to check whether your SmarTrip card will still be valid following the upgrade, and other options of replacing it.
Metro begins phasing out older SmarTrip cards as part of upgrades to faregates and fare payment technology https://t.co/DfDeKuepW5 #wmata pic.twitter.com/iaSO4lg9yH
— Metro (@wmata) April 9, 2021
Metro’s new faregates will start operating at some stations beginning in June 2021, and will be installed in all stations over the next year.
“We recommend replacing your card as soon as possible to avoid any disruption in the future should you ride at a station that has the new faregates installed,” WMATA said in a statement.
If you have SmarTrip in your mobile wallet, you don’t need to take any actions.