Senior SmarTrip and Metro Lift card initiatives to be expanded

By Grace Bennett

            In a meeting on May 13, The Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee recommended endorsement of new access points at which the Senior SmarTrip and Metro Lift cards will be offered—a recommendation approved by staff and consented on during a more recent May 20 meeting.

            Senior SmarTrip cards are meaningful assistance offered to senior citizens living on a fixed income. They offer 50% discounts on all fares for Metrorail, Metrobus, and other regional buses in order to make transportation easier and more affordable for Loudoun County’s respected elderly residents.

            The service-related gaps in Loudoun County’s transportation, however, have been growing more apparent for this side of the community. Access to the SmarTrip cards is limited by nature of the current distribution options.

At present, cards can be obtained online through the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website, in person at the WMATA office in Washington, D.C., or at Commuter Stores in Virginia’s Fairfax County. This unfortunately presents several potential barriers to senior citizens. The lack of a driver’s license, for example, would deter in-person collection of cards in urban areas, as would difficulty with traveling in adverse conditions. A discomfort with technology may prevent customers from applying online as well.

Staff suggested a plethora of solutions to the distribution problem. One of these ideas is to work with Loudoun County senior citizen centers on designated days during the busy lunchtime hour. Staff would be present to provide information, SmarTrip cards, and answer questions on the county’s local fixed-route and paratransit services.

Another solution would involve turning the Commuter Services office at 209 Gibson St., NE, Leesburg VA into a distribution center—five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Staff could also extend card offerings to community events, presentations, and Transit Traveling sessions specifically geared towards seniors.

To top it off, staff would be willing to distribute Senior SmarTrip cards through local library branches in partnership with WMATA.

Factored into the recommendations is a plan to collaborate with the Area Agency and the Public Affairs and Communication team to reach seniors who do not visit the senior centers. In the interest of keeping transportation from—somewhat ironically—being an obstacle, staff has ensured that paratransit services reach all distribution centers and that Loudoun’s Mobility Coordinator will be scheduled to visit various senior living facilities to make the process easier throughout the year.

Metro Lift cards—a more broadly used and essential tool for Loudoun County’s frequent travelers—are being considered alongside the distribution of Senior SmarTrip cards, so long as such an addition would not add to the county’s expenses. This initiative would likely require wider outreach using Health and Human Services departments.

Fortunately, because SmarTrip cards are free of charge, there would be no fiscal impact of their increased distribution outside of adding eight hours per month of staff time to keep the public informed and ensure that centers are functioning properly. Responsibilities on the part of staff would include storing and tracking all cards, verifying the eligibility of applicants, assisting customers with registration, answering related questions, and notifying Community Services staff when supplies run low.

The Board consented to the FGOEDC’s recommendations outlined above for the access points initiative. In an effort to bridge service gaps for Loudoun County’s senior community, and thanks to an expanded sprawl of distribution centers, transportation will see a greater number of SmarTrip card discounts in the near future.