Photo by sbma44.

Metro is not having a great week. But this news may make some riders (not these guys, but some) like it a little bit more.

Starting Monday, Metro will offer the $35 “short trip” pass on SmarTrip cards. The pass was previously only available in paper form, but riders will soon be able to load it on their plastic cards online.

The press release provides the following rules:

• Pass is valid for seven days from first use. It expires at the end of the seventh operating day.
• Good for unlimited Metrorail trips valued up to $3.50 during peak periods
• Good for unlimited Metrorail trips of any value during off-peak times
• During peak periods, the short pass can be used for longer trips (greater than $3.50), but the passenger must pay the difference.

Does anyone feel kinder toward Metro now? Anyone?