MTA CharmCard™ - Smart Commuting With One Card

Our new MTA CharmCard™, is a “smart” fare card that when used will make your experience riding MTA faster, easier and more secure.

CharmCard™ is a rechargeable, credit card-sized, plastic fare card. It is embedded with a computer chip to keep track of the cash value and pass products on your card. Every time you use your CharmCard™ to add cash value, check your card balance, or any other card function, you are automatically linked to the MTA computerized fare collection system.

Although the CharmCard™ is not available to the general public our target date for public launch is late 2010.

The Field Test originally scheduled to end November 30, has been a huge success! Due to the positive response we have received from our participants, we have extended the Field Test until June 30, 2010.

A second Field Test will be on a Regional scale including MTA’s Metro Subway, MTA Local Bus and service in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. thru

When the CharmCard™ is offered to the public by late 2010, you will be able to tap into this new technology simply by touching your CharmCard™ to the targets on Local Bus fareboxes, Light Rail ticket vending machines (TVM) and Metro Subway TVMs and faregates. Just touch and go – it’s that simple!

This sophisticated fare collection system not only makes travel faster and easier, it also makes it more secure. Once you register your CharmCard™ your balance is protected if it is lost or stolen. A new CharmCard™ will be issued with your current balance loaded on it minus a $5 card replacement fee.

Eventually, CharmCard™ will be accepted to ride on MTA core services and regional service in Washington, DC, Northern Virgina, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and anywhere you see the CharmCard™ and SmarTrip® logos displayed.

For greater travel freedom and security, choose CharmCard™   when it is introduced in late 2010.

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