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 Fall of 2010. When the CharmCard™ is offered to the public, you will be able to tap into this new technology simply by touching your CharmCard™ to the targets on Local Bus fareboxes, at Metro Subway faregates and Light Rail ticket vending machines (TVM). 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, damaged 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 Virginia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and anywhere you see the CharmCard™ and SmarTrip® logos displayed.

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