Metrorail will now be free, in addition to Metrobus

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-students-will-be-riding-metro-for-free-this-year/2015/08/17/e81027d2-44e6-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?postshare=4691439907892879

I also received a flyer in my back to school info. The flyer says in big letters, DC Kids Ride Free on Metrorail and then underneath it says go online and enroll for your free $100 benefit (so, which is it - $100 a month or unlimited free rides to/from school). According to the flyer once your DC one card is registered you click "transit subsidy section". I did that and it told me my kid was eligible and prompted me to print the eligibility letter.

Then this:
You are eligible.

Congratulations, you are eligible for the Transit Subsidy benefit. Click the button below to launch the form for printing.

Note: If you just requested a SmarTrip number change, please wait until you receive an email confirming that your SmarTrip number change has been approved before printing your Eligibility Letter. Also, remember that the printed form is only needed for transit pass purchases at Metro Sales Offices. The form is not necessary for online purchases or for the Free Bus or Rail Pass which will automatically load to your DC One Card.

So, I'm confused. Is there nothing to be done? The card will automatically allow my kid to ride bus and train free?

[Anonymous]

Old news. This was posted a few weeks ago.

I wish people would use the search feature more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-students-will-be-riding-metro-for-free-this-year/2015/08/17/e81027d2-44e6-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?postshare=4691439907892879

I also received a flyer in my back to school info. The flyer says in big letters, DC Kids Ride Free on Metrorail and then underneath it says go online and enroll for your free $100 benefit (so, which is it - $100 a month or unlimited free rides to/from school). According to the flyer once your DC one card is registered you click "transit subsidy section". I did that and it told me my kid was eligible and prompted me to print the eligibility letter.

Then this:
You are eligible.

Congratulations, you are eligible for the Transit Subsidy benefit. Click the button below to launch the form for printing.

Note: If you just requested a SmarTrip number change, please wait until you receive an email confirming that your SmarTrip number change has been approved before printing your Eligibility Letter. Also, remember that the printed form is only needed for transit pass purchases at Metro Sales Offices. The form is not necessary for online purchases or for the Free Bus or Rail Pass which will automatically load to your DC One Card.

So, I'm confused. Is there nothing to be done? The card will automatically allow my kid to ride bus and train free?

IME the instructions for the DC One card and transit subsidies have always been confusing. Unfortunately that seems to not have changed.

Is your child's DC ONe card already registered adn linked to a Smartrip account? If not, you will need to do that step online.

The new program has an upper limit of $100 for metro per month. Bus is unlimited and free (which it has always been). Our kids would exceed the $100 benefit by about $30 per month, so we'll be adding fare each month to their cards.



You will

[Anonymous]

No need to be nasty. Feel free to not even waste your energy by opening threads and actually responding if it does not interest you or will annoy you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your helpful response. Yes, my kids DC One card is already registered and linked to a smarttrip account so I guess I am good to go.

I agree, every year there is some hassle/confusion involved with setting up the DC One card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-students-will-be-riding-metro-for-free-this-year/2015/08/17/e81027d2-44e6-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?postshare=4691439907892879

I also received a flyer in my back to school info. The flyer says in big letters, DC Kids Ride Free on Metrorail and then underneath it says go online and enroll for your free $100 benefit (so, which is it - $100 a month or unlimited free rides to/from school). According to the flyer once your DC one card is registered you click "transit subsidy section". I did that and it told me my kid was eligible and prompted me to print the eligibility letter.

Then this:
You are eligible.

Congratulations, you are eligible for the Transit Subsidy benefit. Click the button below to launch the form for printing.

Note: If you just requested a SmarTrip number change, please wait until you receive an email confirming that your SmarTrip number change has been approved before printing your Eligibility Letter. Also, remember that the printed form is only needed for transit pass purchases at Metro Sales Offices. The form is not necessary for online purchases or for the Free Bus or Rail Pass which will automatically load to your DC One Card.

So, I'm confused. Is there nothing to be done? The card will automatically allow my kid to ride bus and train free?

IME the instructions for the DC One card and transit subsidies have always been confusing. Unfortunately that seems to not have changed.

Is your child's DC ONe card already registered adn linked to a Smartrip account? If not, you will need to do that step online.

The new program has an upper limit of $100 for metro per month. Bus is unlimited and free (which it has always been). Our kids would exceed the $100 benefit by about $30 per month, so we'll be adding fare each month to their cards.


You will

I don't think the Unlimited $30 metro subsidy has gone away. The new benefit seems to be for those occasional users.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-students-will-be-riding-metro-for-free-this-year/2015/08/17/e81027d2-44e6-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?postshare=4691439907892879

I also received a flyer in my back to school info. The flyer says in big letters, DC Kids Ride Free on Metrorail and then underneath it says go online and enroll for your free $100 benefit (so, which is it - $100 a month or unlimited free rides to/from school). According to the flyer once your DC one card is registered you click "transit subsidy section". I did that and it told me my kid was eligible and prompted me to print the eligibility letter.

Then this:
You are eligible.

Congratulations, you are eligible for the Transit Subsidy benefit. Click the button below to launch the form for printing.

Note: If you just requested a SmarTrip number change, please wait until you receive an email confirming that your SmarTrip number change has been approved before printing your Eligibility Letter. Also, remember that the printed form is only needed for transit pass purchases at Metro Sales Offices. The form is not necessary for online purchases or for the Free Bus or Rail Pass which will automatically load to your DC One Card.

So, I'm confused. Is there nothing to be done? The card will automatically allow my kid to ride bus and train free?

IME the instructions for the DC One card and transit subsidies have always been confusing. Unfortunately that seems to not have changed.

Is your child's DC ONe card already registered adn linked to a Smartrip account? If not, you will need to do that step online.

The new program has an upper limit of $100 for metro per month. Bus is unlimited and free (which it has always been). Our kids would exceed the $100 benefit by about $30 per month, so we'll be adding fare each month to their cards.


You will

I don't think the Unlimited $30 metro subsidy has gone away. The new benefit seems to be for those occasional users.

PP here. Yes, the $30 subsidy still exists so for us nothing has changed. We will still spend $60 a month for unlimited Metrorail, for which I'm very grateful.

[Anonymous]

OK, so I guess I need to figure out if it's cheaper for me to just add cash or buy the $30/month subsidy. My kid will def exceed the $100 benefit as he rides bus and train every day to/from school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, so I guess I need to figure out if it's cheaper for me to just add cash or buy the $30/month subsidy. My kid will def exceed the $100 benefit as he rides bus and train every day to/from school.

Remember the metrobus is free. You don't have to account for that amount in your overall costs. Also, the $30/month is UNLIMITED for the entire month. It does not have restrictions for days/times (you can use it on weekends and in evenings), unless they change that too. Go to the trip planner and put the most likely times and stations in and figure out your costs.

[Anonymous]

I don't know of that is accurate. I could be wrong, but from what i remember the $30 pass is only for weekdays during certain hours coincide with the regular school day plus after-school activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know of that is accurate. I could be wrong, but from what i remember the $30 pass is only for weekdays during certain hours coincide with the regular school day plus after-school activities.

Not for DC. Maybe some other cities they put a restriction on the time of day, but my DD uses her DC One Card with the $30 student pass during the evenings (afterschool activity) and on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

So if your child rides regularly, you still do the usual monthly student pass, correct? And go down to the metro office to get it activated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if your child rides regularly, you still do the usual monthly student pass, correct? And go down to the metro office to get it activated?

Yes, but you should only have to go down to Metro Center (or whatever office) and do it the initial time only. Afterwards, you can usually load the pass at the kiosks (if working), as long as you don't wait too close to the end of the month.