OmniRide to Accept Smartrip Cards

Slugs,
I know many who slug to work and then return via the bus, so the following information is provided:

As of March 3, PRTC will begin accepting SmarTrip cards on all
OmniRide, Metro Direct and OmniLink buses. SmarTrip is a rechargeable plastic farecard that makes it easy to travel throughout Northern Virginia,Maryland and the District of Columbia. With SmarTrip, there's no more fumbling for exact change or making sure you have a bus token!

SmarTrip is already accepted on Metro trains, Metro Bus and many other transit providers in the region.

PRTC's bus fares will not change; instead, SmarTrip fares will replace
token fares on OmniRide and Metro Direct buses.

During the transition to SmarTrip, OmniRide and Metro Direct customers
will be able to pay fares with cash, tokens or SmarTrip cards. But as
of
May 2, OmniRide and Metro Direct bus tokens will no longer be accepted
for fares; Starting May 2, commuter passengers must pay fares with cash
or SmarTrip cards.

SmarTrip cards may be purchased starting Feb. 11 at the PRTC Transit
Center, 14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In
the Manassas area, SmarTrip cards can be purchased at Giant grocery
stores at Westgate Plaza (8025 Sudley Road), Manassas Junction (8819
Centreville Road), and Wellington Station (10100 Dumfries Road.)
SmarTrip cards also are available at vending machines in Metro stations
with large parking facilities (including Franconia-Springfield, Vienna
and West Falls Church), and online at SmarTrip.com or CommuterPage.com.

For more information, contact PRTC at (703) 730-6664 or to go
www.PRTCtransit.org


PRTC SMARTRIP ACTIVATION TIMELINE

* FEBRUARY 11, 2008 - SmarTrip card sales begin at PRTC

* FEBRUARY 29, 2008 - PRTC stops selling OmniRide/Metro Direct tokens

* MARCH 3, 2008 - Begin accepting SmarTrip card on PRTC buses (tokens
still accepted)

* APRIL 14-MAY 31, 2008 - OmniRide/Metro Direct tokens can be exchanged
at PRTC and the value added to SmarTrip cards

* MAY 2, 2008 - PRTC stops issuing/accepting paper transfers (except
for
local bus transfers between the PRTC Transit Center and Potomac Mills
Mall)

* MAY 2, 2008 - Discontinue accepting OmniRide/Metro Direct tokens as
fare payment

* MAY 31, 2008 - PRTC stops exchanging OmniRide/Metro Direct tokens for
SmarTrip value

quote:

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Originally posted by Admin
[br]Slugs,
I know many who slug to work and then return via the bus, so the following information is provided:

As of March 3, PRTC will begin accepting SmarTrip cards on all
OmniRide, Metro Direct and OmniLink buses. SmarTrip is a rechargeable plastic farecard that makes it easy to travel throughout Northern Virginia,Maryland and the District of Columbia. With SmarTrip, there's no more fumbling for exact change or making sure you have a bus token!


* MAY 2, 2008 - PRTC stops issuing/accepting paper transfers (except
for
local bus transfers between the PRTC Transit Center and Potomac Mills
Mall)

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Hmm - what about folks who have to transfer at Pentagon or Horner Road lot for a different bus? I have to pay twice?

But thanks for the breakdown of the timeline!