CVS will start selling Smartrip cards

Transit

by Michael Perkins • November 17, 2008 2:34 pm

At this week's meeting, the Metro Board of Directors will consider a proposal to allow CVS to sell Smartrip cards at 187 area stores. CVS will sell a Smartrip card for $10 preloaded with $5 in fares, just as you can buy at many Metro stations with paid parking garages. CVS has agreed to sell Smartrip at no cost to Metro and at no additional cost to customers. CVS will display Metro-supplied register signs, and Metro will advertise on its buses and in the Metrorail system that the cards are available at CVS.

CVS in Brookland. Photo by Mr. T in DC on Flickr.

This is another win-win for Metro, CVS and riders. With the upcoming elimination of paper transfers, customers will need a convenient place to get a Smartrip card to continue transferring from bus-to-bus for free.

9 comments — Share	— tags: SmarTrip, WMATA

SmarTrip passes will start with bus (May 6, 2009)
Smartrip available at CVS just in time for Christmas (Dec 18, 2008)
What do SmarTrip cards cost? (Dec 12, 2008)
Is Metro selling SmarTrip at a profit? (Nov 8, 2008)
Metro's real reason for eliminating paper transfers (Nov 3, 2008)

Comments

Yes, but where else can you *charge* them? That's another problem....

by Aaron on Nov 17, 2008 3:21 pm

wmata needs to step up and put kiosks (similar to what is in the stations) for smartrip cards on some busy bus lines. how about starting with a demonstration kiosk at 8th and H NE (would cover the X2 and the 90 buses)?

by IMGoph on Nov 17, 2008 4:04 pm

Now if only the dunderheads at Metro would realize what a gold mine they are sitting on and start slapping pictures of pandas, sports logos etc. on the cards. Tourists and locals who collect such things would snap them up at $10 a pop and never use them! Free money for Metro! Is that so hard to understand? Transit systems around the world do this because they actually seem to think ways of raising revenue beyond higher fares and system advertising. Imagine. Here's hoping Metro catches on soon.

by cary o'reilly on Nov 17, 2008 4:33 pm

While extra money is nice, it will not be a magic bullet for capitalization costs.

by Cavan on Nov 17, 2008 4:56 pm

Magic bullet? No. Good marketing? Absolutely. There's value to that beyond just the revenue taken in...

by Alex B. on Nov 17, 2008 5:03 pm

Off-topic but, can we get a petition going to urge CVS to stop retrofitting historic theatres for their unaesthetic stores? It's a borderline travesty. Especially this and the McArthur Theatre. Surely they can find alternative space in the coming years so we can return these gems to their former glory

by SG on Nov 17, 2008 5:19 pm

Now Metro add Safeway to the list and most of the area will be covered and try to get the rest of the smartrip system up before 2015 and everything will be just great.

@ SG I agree you got any suggestions for a place in Brookland.

by kk on Nov 17, 2008 7:59 pm

You can refill SmarTrip cards at bus fareboxes, cash only. It may be inconvenient on busy bus routes, but at other times, it is fairly quick to do.

by Steve Strauss on Nov 18, 2008 11:55 am

Cool, what I don't get is why there still are not SMARTRIP machines in more metrorail stations. I think there's no better way to get people using SMARTRIPs than allowing people to buy them instead of a paper card at stations.

by marshall on Dec 3, 2008 10:57 am