Metro offers discounts to low-income riders
Metro is offering reduced fares to low-income customers, beginning June 20.
The new Metro Lift initiative offers 50 percent discounts to residents of D.C., Virginia, and Maryland who qualify for the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). An estimated 471,000 people receive SNAP benefits across the region.
Metro’s Board of Directors approved Metro Lift in the FY 2024 budget to promote transit equity and affordability in one of the nation’s most expensive regions.
Online enrollment and appointment scheduling will begin on June 20 at wmata.com/MetroLift. In-person enrollment will begin at three sites starting on June 26.
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To enroll, you’ll need a SmarTrip card for you and members of your household, an active SNAP EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, a copy of your SNAP proof of benefits, a photo ID issued by D.C., Virginia, Maryland, or the federal government, and a phone number.
Customers already enrolled in other reduced-fare programs, such as U-Pass and Senior SmarTrip, will continue to receive the same discounted fares as they do today and need not enroll in the Metro Lift program.
The fare discount will be loaded onto your SmarTrip card up to 48 hours after online enrollment and immediately for those who enroll in person. The discount will be good for one year.
In-person enrollment will be available at the Metro Center Metro station (12th and F Street NW entrance, mezzanine level), Metro headquarters (300 7th Street SW), and the New Carrollton Metro Office, 4100 Garden City Drive, Hyattsville, Md.).
To enroll in person, you’ll need to schedule an appointment online or call 1-888-SmarTrip (888-762-7874). Online booking begins on June 20.
Almost every other time (50%) I arrive back from a trip to DC on the Metro and exit from the Pentagon City Metro station I see people who easily jump over the low Metrorail turnstiles with impunity.
It would be nice to think that some of these individuals who qualify for this reduced fare program will go through the enrollment process and utilize the program to go through rather than over the turnstiles.
Yes, I think many will and this is a terrific program.
I predict this will be a complete failure. Our lawmakers misunderstand the problem so their solution is incorrect. The problem is not that people can’t afford $2 or $3. The problem a lack of respect. For the past few years, we’ve taught “youths” that this country is bad, that personal accountability doesn’t exist depending on your victim status, and that there are no consequences for breaking laws, many of which are not even enforced.
Sure, change the laws to appease criminals instead of enforcing the law equally.
I heard they also offer discounted rides to school aged students as well.
School age kids? You want your school age kids on metro? What about older students?
A few obvious observations. Metro is a national disgrace. My bike gets stolen. It’s expensive to park. The lockers are getting broken into. It should be shuttered because DC is never coming back. 50% building occupancy in some places and commercial real estate is in trouble. No one wants to get accosted in DC or on the metro. No weapons on metro so you can’t defend yourself. Defunded cops nowhere to be found or don’t care.
It seems like we are caving to people jumping turnstiles. We are nowhere near rock bottom. All the liberals shouting me down six months ago are conspicuously silent in these comment sections.
My daughter signed me up for the free Metro bus card never got a respond back I’m 62 years old I still need a free bus pass I live in Clairton PA
Call the fools at 888-762-7874