How would they work with SmartBenefits? Would I have to use my alloted amount to buy a pass at the station? Or would I have to set it up differently. I take the bus most places instead of metro (sadly, it's more reliable and sometimes faster), and I'd love a pass, but there's been no info on how it would work with SmartBenefits

by belmontmedina on Oct 13, 2010 10:32 am  

Can we just get an OysterCard-type system, where your bus fares within a 7-day period get capped at $15? This way, it's easier to reload, and there's less guesswork.

(Alternatively, being able to load a pass onto your card online or via smartphone wouldn't be bad)

by andrew on Oct 13, 2010 10:39 am  

another how-will-this-work question: at present bus-to-rail transfers receive a modest discount from the rail segment.  if the connecting bus segment was paid for at the farebox with a smart trip with a pass loaded onto it (rather than from the account's cash balance) does the rail segment discount still apply? 

by intermodal commuter on Oct 13, 2010 10:44 am  

According to Metro spokesperson, no transfer discounts for pass holders. You're already getting one discount with the pass, they don't want to give two discounts.

@andrew: I know people are enamored with this price capping thing, but in London it only happens for the daily pass and the cap is actually really high compared to single fares (about 3-4 rides). None of the longer-term passes are price capped, and for good reason.

The problem with price capping for longer passes or more favorable ratios is it activates only when it's the better deal for the rider, which is automatically the worst deal for Metro. It puts all the financial risk on Metro at a time when their finances are pretty shaky.

by Michael Perkins on Oct 13, 2010 10:49 am  

They really need to get the rail passes on there too, otherwise the benefit is minimal. It seems like the people who show the paper pass have an easier time boarding because of how often the fareboxes misread the SmarTrip cards. But I tend to use the regular fare anyway because my bus usage doesn't always reach the cost of a pass, especially with the transfer discount.

It's a little sad that I ride transit every day and it's cheaper for me to pay regular fare instead of using a pass. It shows how much of a discount was lost when Metro phased out the combined bus-rail pass.

by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2010 10:52 am  

What about those people who recieve bus passes from social service organizations? A lot of the people I work with recieve weekly bus passes to get to and from their medical (and other) appointments. How will Metro handle this? Will the organizations be able to load bus passes onto individual's SmarTrip cards electronically?

by rocky on Oct 13, 2010 11:28 am  

A good start but a lot of room for improvement. I might consider it when you can buy the pass online or at any fare machine, and especially if you can renew online or automatically.

I'd love to know how much money Metro will save from this. Not only can they stop printing paper passes each week, but the SmarTrip should be more fraud-resistant (how many bus riders do you think are flashing fraudulent or expired passes when they board?).

by Gavin on Oct 13, 2010 11:45 am  

As a bus pass holder who does a decent amount of Metro riding, this pleasant surprise has mostly upsides. The number of bus pass locations will actually increase as all the CVS's that sell Smartrip cards will now be able to sell bus passes. This will take a lot of pressure off of the tried and true sales locations (read: Giant) where there often would be mobs to get new passes on Saturday morning.

Another plus will be that that there will no longer be the supply problems that many locations had in selling out their stock in a short amount of time. Metro had some massive inequalities where places like the aforementioned Giant got their passes the Friday before the start period, but Commuter Store locations got them over a week before.

Hopefully this is a step in the right direction as it means one less piece of paper to deal with. Maybe they'll finally rediscover things other commuters take for granted...

by Jason on Oct 13, 2010 11:56 am  

I was part of the pilot program for this. It worked very well. However, I don't think that a pass will save me money because of all the transfers I get. A lot of the errands I do by bus have me at the destination for less than 3 hours before I catch the return bus, so the entire ride costs $1.50 with the free transfer. Add in bus-to-rail and rail-to-bus discounts, and not getting a pass becomes simpler and cheaper.

Is there a limit to the number of free transfers one can get within a 3-hour period? Theoretically, could somebody ride buses all day for just $1.50, allowing no more than 3 hours between rides?

by Malcolm K on Oct 13, 2010 12:34 pm  

All this fancy stuff about adding bus passes to the SmarTrip card and they can't figure out a way for riders to add money to their SmarTrip card online. Wmata sucks!

by wmatasucks on Oct 13, 2010 1:26 pm  

Gavin - I think it's a damned if you do damned if you don't situation on the passes. Before they could show a fraudulent pass; now they'll just argue that the farebox is broken or that they just put a pass on their card. There are farebox and smartrip problems so often, the driver can't really argue.

by nevermindtheend on Oct 13, 2010 1:29 pm  

@Malcom K: I think that such a pass on one's Smartrip could help tip some bus-apprehensive people to shift their travel from Metro to bus. However, for those who solely take a bus to connect to Metro and never ride a bus otherwise, it becomes less worth it unless they are traveling 7 days a week. For those with bus-only commutes or who take the bus over the train get a good deal even in terms of transfers.

And yes, one can hypothetically have an all day transfer on one fare as long as they tap their Smartrip every 2 hours. This is a loophole that really should be closed which is why most newer systems put a numerical number of transfers rather than a time limit.

by Jason on Oct 13, 2010 2:34 pm  

What happens when the cards brake/malfunction during the 7 days with a pass on them ?

Is the pass cost going to be refunded, prorated or is the user just SOL. You could end up paying for the price of a pass plus that of a smartrip card (come next year)

You need to be allowed to add a pass at either all Safeways & Giant stores that you presently can not just CVS or you need to be able to add them on all buses and at all stations.

by kk on Oct 13, 2010 4:25 pm  

I too am wondering how this works with SmartBenefits. If I can't purchase the pass with value on my card, its of no added benefit to me.

by Matt on Oct 13, 2010 4:51 pm