SmarTrip cards will available for iPhone and Apple Watch starting Tuesday, September 1.
Traveling on the Metro just got ten times easier! WMATA announced earlier today that SmarTrip cards can now be uploaded onto your iPhone or Apple Watch via Apple Wallet so you can kiss goodbye to all your misplaced travel cards. Starting Tuesday, September 1, all you need to do to get on the metro is simply pull out your phone, hold it up to the card reader and voilà–You’re good to go!
“We are excited to deliver a new level of convenience and simplicity for our customers. If you have an iPhone or Apple Watch, you already have everything you need to simply tap and go,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “In every step in the customer journey, SmarTrip on iPhone and Apple Watch makes it simpler, easier, faster, safer… just better.”
According to WMATA’s press release, riders can use SmarTrip on their phones at all 91 DMV Metro stations, all Metrobus lines, all Metro parking areas, and all regional bus routes. Those who already have SmarTrip cards can just upload their current balances, benefits, and passes to their Apple Wallet. Riders can also download the new SmarTrip app, which allows you to add money, purchase passes, and manage your auto-reload and SmartBenefits with just one simple click.
The new card system makes getting on the metro way faster and safer–especially in the current times we live in. The ‘touch-free’ process diminishes surface contacts with riders not having to touch card readers or vending machines, and with Express Transit, they can move quickly through stations and fare gates without the need to use Face ID, Touch ID, or wake their device.
“Residents in the Washington D.C. area who rely on SmarTrip now have a safer way to pay for their rides using just their iPhone or Apple Watch,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay. “By adding their SmarTrip cards to their Apple devices, riders can take advantage of this ‘tap and go’ experience and also be assured that their transaction information is secure and private.”
Unfortunately, the update is not yet available for Android, which means its users might have to wait a little bit longer to try out the new contactless method.
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[Featured image: Chris Grafton, Unsplash]