We knew this was something WMATA had been considering for some time, especially with the agency’s big push toward emphasizing universal adoption of SmarTrip cards, but today it’s official: Metro is eliminating paper transfers in January.

Beginning January 4, 2009, only bus riders using SmarTrip cards will be able to take advantage of free bus-to-bus transfers and discounted rail-to-bus transfers. Bus drivers will no longer hand out paper transfers, and machines that dispense paper rail-to-bus transfers inside Metro stations will be removed.

Expect to hear some pushback on this one from advocates for the poor and the homeless. The $5 fee for SmarTrip cards and the need to add value to it using one of Metro’s farecard machines are seen as obstacles to many needy area residents. Paper transfers have long been a sort of currency among D.C.’s homeless population. Metro says it is continuing to reach out to area social service agencies to discuss the change, and that it has already issued 50,000 free SmarTrip cards to the region’s social service agencies.

The good news for those of you who already use SmarTrip: once the change goes into effect, free bus-to-bus transfers will now be good for three hours instead of only two. SmarTrip users often complain that their transfers are not valid for as long as paper transfers, so this change should silence that concern.

Metro says eliminating paper transfers will save them about $300,000 a year. The change should also help cut down on fraud and abuse of transfers, as well as minimize disputes between bus drivers and riders.

A new ad campaign will be launched this month to inform customers of the impending change. Metro will continue to sell its weekly bus pass, 7-day short-trip pass and weekly rail pass.

Photo by 7194KK