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Pretty great news for those of you who regularly travel between D.C. and Baltimore: transportation officials say they've reached an agreement that will allow SmarTrip users to use the cards seamlessly on the Maryland Transit Administration system in and around Baltimore, WTOP reports.
MTA is planning on adopting a new system that uses the exact same technology as SmarTrip, just with a different brand, meaning that users across both systems will one day soon be able to travel between the two with the same card. The new technology is expected to be operational in both D.C. and Baltimore by early 2010.
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The fact that they are not offering this on MARC takes out the whole..."will work seamlessly between systems" claim.
Should be:
"Will work seamlessly on your shitty metro system as it will on ours, with the exception of the hour long commuter rail ride in which you'll have to bust out your credit card on Amtrak's kiosks or pay cash on board...just deal"
Yeah. Too bad I have to DRIVE to Baltimore to use my SmarTrip. Why isn't MARC in on this? This makes about as much sense as taking a hooker-drawn rickshaw to a brothel. No, wait. That would be totally cool.
I've said it before, I'll say it again...the measure by which all transit system should strive for
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_card
Awesome, but too easy and simple so WasaMATA and the D.C. gubment will find some way to screw it up.
Why do major transit systems name their card/passes after sea creatures? Hong Kong has the Octopus card, London has the Oyster card...
Are you saying that DC should rename its SmarTrip card the "Shoggoth Card?" Because the Dreaded Cthulhu in his sunken crypt outside time wills it to be so!
I still say they're better off spending the millions on hooker-drawn rickshaws, innercity toboggan transit, and ski lift gondolas with stripper poles. But you already knew that.
Or how about the Loch Ness Monster card?
"Hold up - I've got to put more money on my Nessie."
I'd go with Chupacabra Card
octopus card is great. you can even use it to pay in certain parking garages, as well as to shop at 7-11. very cool.
I Like "3C Card" for "The Charm 'n Chocolate Card"
3C Card... so the Charm 'n Chocolate Card Card?
Without a participating connector between the two systems, this is a complete waste of the legal paperwork. San Diego and St. Louis should also coordinate their public transportation systems. It would have the same beneficial effect on roughly the same number of people.
My smart trip card is dying...that means I've lived here for too long and suffered through way too many trips on the red line.
Agree with the above - why even bother if you can't get your act together with MARC and VRE?
And why even publicize it when that will only create a sh*t storm amongst riders wondering "why even bother if you can't get your act together with MARC and VRE"?
Well, you could take the Green Line to Greenbelt, catch the bus to BWI Airport, then get on the light rail to Baltimore, using nothing more than a SmartTrip card, right?
BTW, nice photo, he he he!
Yeah, but then you'd be in Baltimore. Who the hell wants that?
Being in Baltimore reduces your chances of being struck on the sidewalk by an inebriated Paul Strauss by at least 78%. Fact.
I think* federal rail regulations require some form of ID being presented for intercity travel, which cuts MARC out of the loop on this, even though they openly defy the regulations by allowing cash payments onboard.
*educated guessing... but really don't know what I'm talking about
And this process you so succinctly describes takes 2 hours. As opposed to the MARC which cuts that travel time in half.
"...Baltimore and D.C. both near top of homicide rate lists..."
Let's call it the "Homicide Cities Travel Card ®". Don't leave the safety of your home without it.
The card will also encode your dental records and DNA, just in case.
Very handy.