The end of the paper farecard is nigh: Metro is planning to retrofit the newer vending machines at stations to only dispense SmarTrips.

An $8.7 million plan to do this is part of the capital budget WMATA’s board is scheduled to vote on tomorrow.

As part of the GM/CEO’s goal to eliminate paper-magnetic farecards on the Metrorail system, WMATA has identified an $8.7 million capital project to retrofit the Express Recharge Machines (fare vending machines) in Metrorail stations to dispense SmarTrip cards rather than paper-magnetic farecards. This project will not be funded through the [six-year Capital Improvement Program], but instead will be funded from the existing SmarTrip reserve fund, which currently has a balance of approximately of $12 million. This reserve fund receives the proceeds from SmarTrip card sales and has been used in the past to replenish the stock of SmarTrip cards.

Metro’s spokesperson told the Post that the plan will take a year and a half. SmarTrips can be purchased at separate machines in Metro stations for $10 — $2 for the card with $8 already loaded.