Metro Plans To Eliminate Paper Fare Card Sales

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Metro may be set to phase out paper fare cards completely, in favor of plastic rechargeable cards.

The Washington Post reports the capital budget that Metro's board is scheduled to approve Thursday includes a plan to end the sale of paper fare cards. All riders would then use plastic SmarTrip cards.

Most riders already have made the switch to plastic cards. About 93 percent of riders use SmarTrip cards and avoid a $1 surcharge imposed on every ride with a paper card.

Under the budget plan for the 2015 fiscal year, Metro would convert newer vending machines to dispense only SmarTrip cards. Riders would still be able to use paper cards they had already purchased. But eventually Metro plans to eliminate use of paper cards at the fare gates.