Metro Launches Smartrip Automatic Reload Option

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From WMATA:

Metro today launched SmarTrip® Auto Reload, a new convenient feature that allows customers to have value automatically added to their cards when their balances drops below a minimum threshold. By signing up for SmarTrip® Auto Reload, customers can avoid the hassle of stopping at farecard vending machines or repeatedly going online to add more value.

Similar to EZ-Pass, the Auto Reload feature allows customers to have a pre-defined dollar value automatically added to a registered card whenever the balance on SmarTrip® drops below $20 on a full fare SmarTrip® card or below $10 on a Senior/Disabled SmarTrip® card.

For customers who use a 7-Day Bus or Rail Pass, Auto Reload will add a new pass when three days remain on the pass. Similarly, for the 28-Day or 30-Day Pass, Auto Reload is triggered when seven days remain on the active pass.

The launch of Auto Reload follows a successful testing period with more than 1,300 customers using the new feature.

To use the Auto Reload feature, customers must register their cards and have an online SmarTrip® account. Upon logging into their online account, customers are able to link their SmarTrip® cards to a credit or debit card that will automatically add the pre-determined value that the customers chooses.