Fares & farecards

Metro’s Reduced Fare Programs for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens

If you're a person with a disability

Qualified people with disabilities may ride for half the regular fare on Metrorail, for 60¢ on regular Metrobus routes and for discounted fare on other participating bus service providers.

There are several ways to apply for a Metro Disability ID card application: by printing this online version, picking one up at these locations, calling 202-962-1245 (TTY 202-628-8973) or 202-962-1558 (TTY 202-962-2033) or emailing your request to adap@wmata.com. The original certified application is required when applying for the ID card.

Metro's Reduced Fare Program allows you to buy $10 discount paper Metrorail farecards and $6 Metrobus Weekly Disabled Passes at these locations. You must have a valid Metro Disability ID card to purchase Reduced Fare SmarTrip® card at these locations. You may also show your valid Metro Disability ID card to a bus operator to pay the reduced bus fare.

If you are just visiting the area and would like to pay reduced fare, we can give you a one-time courtesy Metro Disability ID card. It provides the same benefits listed above for up to one month. You must present a valid transportation ID card from another transit agency along with valid government-issued photo identification. Bring them to our Metro ID Card Office located at 600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. If you don’t have a transportation ID card from another transit agency, you may still purchase $10 discount paper Metrorail farecards and $6 Metrobus Weekly Disabled Passes by showing a valid Medicare card and a government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.) at one of these locations.

You may not purchase a Reduced Fare SmarTrip® card without a valid Metro Disability ID card.

If you’re a senior citizen 65 or older

If you are a senior citizen with a disability, you DO NOT need to apply for the Metro Disability ID Card. As a senior citizen, you already qualify for reduced fares.

Senior citizens may ride for half the regular fare on Metrorail, for 60¢ on regular Metrobus routes and for discounted fare on other participating bus service providers.

You may purchase a Senior SmarTrip® card (available 7/1/08) by presenting a valid government issued photo ID card (driver's license, non-driver's ID, or passport) at these locations or $10 discount paper Metrorail farecards and $6 Metrobus Weekly Disabled Passes at these locations.

NOTE: If you currently have a Reduced Fare SmarTrip® card, you should not purchase the new Senior SmarTrip® card unless your card is lost, stolen or damaged.

If you are a local resident, you may pay the reduced bus fare by showing the bus operator your valid Medicare card and a government-issued photo ID.

If you are visiting the area, you may pay the reduced bus fare by showing the bus operator a valid government-issued photo ID that includes your date of birth and address, or purchase the $10 discount Metrorail farecard and/or the $6 Metrobus Weekly Senior Pass at the above locations.

The benefits of a SmarTrip® card

It's rechargeable: You may store up to $300 in value on the card and add value at any Metrorail station using cash, credit/debit cards or even old paper farecards. You can also add value (using cash only) on any Metrobus or other participating regionals buses.
It's convenient: Just tap the card to the target at the Metrorail faregate or bus farebox.
Best of all, it's safe: If you lose the card, you don't lose the value that's on it. Simply report the card lost and we’ll send you a new one (for a $5 replacement fee) and tell you how to download the value from the lost card onto the new card.