SmarTrip Cards Going the Way of EZPass
Metro hopes to encourage riders to use the plastic farecards
Metro is rolling out changes for the system's SmarTrip cards, including automatically reloading values and vending locations in all stations. Some changes will be implemented by July 1, others will roll out in September and still more are in the works for 2013 and 2014. SmarTrip will soon offer an "auto reload" function similar to EZPass drivers use to pay road tolls. By signing up online and linking a credit or debit with a the SmarTrip card, users can opt to have value loaded automatically onto a card whenever the balance drops below a personally specified amount. Additionally, metro is installing vending locations in stations throughout the system to allow users to buy a SmarTrip card on the spot. "The installation process has already …