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Metro hasn't yet formally announced the sale of a special edition SmarTrip card commemorating the impending inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama, but this image was circulated at this morning's regular Board of Directors meeting, along with details on their production schedule and cost.
Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel confirmed that the commemorative SmarTrip cards should be available for sale in early January, while special paper Metro farecards marking the inauguration will be sold somewhat earlier, in late December.
There was some discussion at the board meeting about the cost and availability of the commemorative SmarTrip cards. Currently, Metro plans to sell them for $10 per card, with no value added to the card at the time of initial purchase, which would make them $5 more expensive than regular SmarTrip cards. They may also be hard to come by, as Metro will only have an initial order of 35,000 on hand to begin with, though Taubenkibel said the agency hopes to have more available as time permits. The short time period during which the cards have had to be ordered, produced, and eventually shipped to D.C. and processed was cited as the main reason for their higher price and small number.
"We're going to have get them out really quickly in order for them to be sold," Taubenkibel explained.
We'll be sure to update when a firm date is announced for their sale. The commemorative SmarTrip cards will be available to purchase online, as well as at Metro sales offices.
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First!
Not sure if I like this.. it would seem that WMATA has put itself in a position where they will now have to do commemorative cards for every new President.
What's not to like? That only puts them in a position to do this every 4 or 8 years, and plus WMATA make an extra $5 off of people who want the keepsake.
it's fine by me. wmata needs to take advantage of every chance they can get to make money, and if this can help fill up that funding shortfall, then i'm behind it 100%
EBAY here I come!
Wow. No misspellings. Got the date right. See what happens when you hire an editor that doesn't use crayons?
And we know when Palin wins in 2016, there will only be 6 or so cards with her likeness sold in DC. The other 500,000 will be sent back to China for full refund.
who wants someone's face on their smarttrip card? it's like you're hitting obama in the face every time you slap your card on the turnstile.
Sssonya, it sounds like the extra cost is due to the processing and shipping. Didn't sound like Metro will make an extra $5.
I do agree with you, it would be nice if this could be used to offset fare hikes.
Ebay indeed...
Now, anyone who hates Smartrip cards is automatically a racist.
Well played, WMATA. Well played.
I'm being petty, that's all. I know that I wouldn't have liked to see a George W. Bush commemorative SmarTrip card.
However, it doesn't seem like they're doing this as a real money-making venture: "The short time period during which the cards have had to be ordered, produced, and eventually shipped to D.C. and processed was cited as the main reason for their higher price."
I will not be getting this.
"$10 per card, with no value added"
Wow, all the jokes that are going through my head...
i vote for putting emeka moneme’s face on every smartrip card from here to the end of time. huzzah!
Metro needs to milk this day for all its worth. Jack up fares, increase the parking rate, and ticket people brining on food like crazy....Spread the wealth a little.
Maybe there is no misspellings and the date might be correct, but this sentance is missing a preposition:
"We're going to have get them out really quickly in order for them to be sold," Taubenkibel explained."
...to have TO get them...
monkeyrotica sez: Now, anyone who hates Smartrip cards is automatically a racist.
welles sez: I will not be getting this.
hmm, i report, you decide.
Is McCain's face on the back?
Deep, it's on the side.
'We're going to have get them out really quickly in order for them to be sold,' Taubenkibel explained"
Anyone else sensing a disaterous conclusion in the midst? Since when has anything related to WMATA arrived on time?!
Does anyone know if there are any IP rights limitations for his face? RE: Can I go ahead and process that order I have pending for 3 Mil "change shaped" cafe press ear muffs I will be selling on the corner of 1st and Penn. on the 20th?
Is there a DumbTrip card?
Well played Metro. Just when I thought I couldn't get any more tired of his face you took it up a notch. These next four years are going to be awesome.
Is this the start of the payback for Regan National?
I would like a commemorative supermodel SmartTrip card.
A more mighty awesomer card would a scratch and sniff SmartCard. They'll be several scents:
Metro Scenter
LeFant Splaza
MSG Chinatown
Sweaty Driver
Obama's second hand smoke
Dupont Underground beef
Corrected version
A more mighty awesomer card would be a scratch and sniff SmartCard. They'll be several scents:
Metro Scenter
LeFant Splaza
MSG Chinatown
Sweaty Driver
Obama's second hand smoke
Dupont Underground beef
Columbia Weathering Heights
"they'll be"?
what language you speakin'?
Metro can rip off the tourists! I LOVE it!
You know, I think this is really irresponsible of Metro. The Electors haven't even met yet. Do we really want our transit system weighing in on whom they should vote for? Don't they realize we live in a Democracy, where every state (and DC) has a right to select a few people to decide on our behalf who is best to lead us?
Don't let WMATA subvert that ideal with their pro-general-election-as-determinative bias!!
Obama SmartTrip cards AND Obama 24 karat gold coin banner ad!?
Obama commemorative stuff overload!
"they'll be"?
what language you speakin'?
I speak the language of the Battleship Potemkin.
Oh look! A baby stroller.
You know, I think this is really irresponsible of Metro. The Electors haven't even met yet. Do we really want our transit system weighing in on whom they should vote for? Don't they realize we live in a Democracy, where every state (and DC) has a right to select a few people to decide on our behalf who is best to lead us?
Not to mention there's still a cert petition at the Supreme Court still pending in the matter of Berg v Obama, et al. :)
heh, at least this time i pulled this page up, there is an ad for the "barack obama inaugural dollar" up at the top. looks like everyone is cashing in.
"Does anyone know if there are any IP rights limitations for his face?"
I don't think Obama loses his rights just because he's elected President.. but obviously no US President has ever raised the issue (Sarkozy has sued to stop sales of a voodoo doll in his likeness, but obviously that's under French law).