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Metro formally announced today that SmarTrip users can add value to their cards at select CVS and Giant Food stores. Last year, WMATA made SmarTrip cards more widely available for sale at CVS and Giant, but now customers can also choose to add money to their cards at both chains while they check out.
Many CVS stores actually began offering customers the ability to reload their SmarTrip cards back in April, while Giant has only started to test the sales devices at eight area stores. The grocer will likely add 42 more locations later this summer. Not every CVS or Giant has the new SmarTrip reload technology, but a lot of them do. Consult the list of participating stores to find the one closest to you.
The change means that SmarTrip users need no longer necessarily wait in line to access Metro's machines inside stations in order to reload their cards.
Now we just need Metro to go ahead figure out how to let us autoreload our SmarTrip cards by linking them to debit or credit cards, like Starbucks does.
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That's funny, because the last time I went to CVS to buy a card they told me they were out, and that, in fact, ALL CVS stores are out. Would love to hear if anyone else has found a store that actually has them.
This probably doesn't work with SmartBenefits or with a transit-only locations debit card (like the one from wageworks).
But a decent first start for the average person paying cash.
Awesome!
I hate going into the metro just to reload my card that I pretty much only use for the bus. CVS is much closer to where I live than the nearest metro stop.
I loaded money yesterday on my card at a CVS and it was great! Makes it much easier for bus trips. Can't wait for an online or automatic reloading function though. C'mon Metro!
You can add value onto a smartrip on the bus.
http://wmata.com/fares/smartrip/add_value.cfm
Yes, but adding value to your Smartrip on the bus while a line of people is waiting behind you to board is extremely bad karma.
More importantly, when will Smartrip work in cabs?
plus you can use credit/debit or cash at CVS, whereas the bus only allows cash.
I just bought a Smartrip card at the CVS downtown on 20th & M - they actually seemed to have plenty in stock. And, as the post above mentions, I was able to add more than the measly $5 that's preloaded on the card.
I had a smartrip card for three years that started not working. I guess there's a lifespan to those things...
My roommate had a credit card that actually doubled as a SmarTrip card. Unfortunately, she just got a notice in the mail saying that the card is being discontinued.