Metrorail riders will now be able to pay at Metrorail stations using contactless credit and debit cards as part of the “Tap Ride Go” system.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the launch of credit and debit card payments for Metrorail Wednesday, and said it plans to launch the payment system for Metrobus and at parking facilities soon.
WMATA CEO Randy Clarke previewed the system on social media earlier this month, showing himself testing out a Metrorail faregate with his own credit card.
Only contactless credit and debit cards, those able to be tapped for payment, will be usable. Contactless cards have a waves symbol on them similar to Wi-Fi bars or a volume symbol.
Metro also said riders should take out the card they will be using for their rail trip from wallets or the back of a phone, as tapping a physical card within a wallet or a physical card on a phone that has credit card information loaded on it could result in duplicate charges.
Electronic devices with credit card information are also accepted, Metro said on its website, specifically Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
For parties with multiple riders, each rider will need their own physical credit, debit or SmarTrip card — you are not able to use a single credit card to pay for multiple passengers’ rides on Metrorail, Metro said.
Parents are able to bring two kids under age 4 with them for free. Children 5 and up, Metro said, can pay using a copy of their parent’s or their own contactless credit or debit card.
Children must be 13 to use Apple Pay and pay with tapping, and must be 16 to use Google Pay.
