Unsuck DC Metro: Fare Hikes' Silver Lining: Freebies

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fare Hikes' Silver Lining: Freebies

Yesterday, we posed the half joking question "When's the fare increase to recoup the money they failed to collect from the fare increase?"

Sadly, it's sounding less and less like a joke considering the money Metro appears to be hemorrhaging because their Casio watch powered systems were ill equipped to handle the complexity of the recent fare increases.

Here's another example:

Dispatches from anonymous:

I don't know if anyone told you about this already, but last night (Wed.) at the Vienna south parking garage, one of the two exits was completely closed off. I was parked on the 4th level and it took 18 min. to get out of the garage because the cars were bumper-to-bumper, like we were leaving a concert. The only consolation prize was that Metro raised the gate arms, and we didn't have to pay the $4.50 parking fee. This happened to me around 6:30 pm.
Update: both exits at the Vienna parking garage were working tonight (Thurs.), but the gates were up, meaning that we left without having to pay $4.50 again for parking. Dumbasses!
The parking gates were in the up position Friday and yesterday (Mon.) as well, which allowed us to exit without paying the parking fee. People at Vienna station are enjoying the free parking.

The Vienna station has almost 6,000 parking spaces.

What other freebies have you noticed?

Other items:
"Low level of credibility" threat made to Metro system (NBC4)
Graham says Metro Board could have done nothing to prevent crash (Examiner) WaPo take
"Wilding on wheels?" (Examiner)

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This Suck is Bananas · 763 weeks ago

I got a free peak ride to Foggy Bottom last week, presumably because the faregates neither registered the exit and re-entry there and then just picked up my exit back at my start point 4 hours later. However, Metro more than got its revenge when I paid an after-midnight peak fare for the first time ... after a 35 minute delay thanks to Red line single tracking. At least during rush hour peak you get there quickly.

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Godsend Conspirator · 763 weeks ago

There's a slight chip in the side of my SmarTrip card and now it doesn't register at the turnstyles. I'm very sad with my life.

The station manager at Vienna saw me tirelessly try to get through, so he came over, examined the card, and informed me that it is broken. He said I have to either mail it in or buy a new card and get it transferred over? So I was just kinda standing around for a while hoping he might let me through. No dice. Had to get a +25c paper card.

I realize this has nothing to do with free stuff. Quite the opposite, in fact! If anyone else has had a broken SmarTrip before, what's the easiest way to go about getting the money on it back? I go through Metro Center every day, so I was hoping the people there could transfer it possibly.

6 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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BRLou · 763 weeks ago

No dice transfering at Metro Center. They will just tell you to buy a new card and mail it in a well. Best bet right now is to get a new card, register it immediately wait a couple/few days then call and they will transfer it over the phone. "Rumor has it" we will be able to accomplish this online at some point but I don' t think it is available yet...

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LoxyBrown · 763 weeks ago

I had to exchange my Metro card by mailing it in to Reston, I believe. Nothing wrong with it just demagnetized. I first registered it at metroopensdoors.com (yeah right) and then called and they either mailed me a form or I downloaded one and I had to send it in. I was overjoyed when I got it back in 2 weeks, just be prepared to go without it for awhile. Good luck!

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Rick · 763 weeks ago

I take it you mean a paper farecard right? Smartrips are RFID.

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ElanVitale · 763 weeks ago

There are no magnets in the Smart Card. I never get tired of explaining this to people, honestly.

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Guest · 762 weeks ago

The best way is to register the SmarTrip online (Metro's website) as soon as you get it. That way, if it needs replacing, you can take it to a Commuter Store or mobile Metro store and they'll give you a new one with the balance transferred. It will cost you the fee of a new card though-there's no way around that.

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alieblue 19p · 763 weeks ago

I have had to replace my SmarTrip twice. I found it's fastest if you say it was lost or stolen, than turn in your broken one. I got a replacement card in a week that way, and waited over 2 weeks when the other one I admitted was broken and I turned it in. I also found they have gotten much faster with email responses. Be sure your cards are always registered so you get back your money. And whether you turn in your old one or say it's lost/stolen you will still have to pay for a new card...

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@kara_h · 763 weeks ago

Plenty of times Dupont south has gates locked open. I have had this happen at Van Ness as well.

Looks like a lot of smarttrip cards will have a huge excess balance at the end of the month.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Awesome · 763 weeks ago

Of my 10 one way trips involving Dupont last week, 6 were free! Thanks for the free rides Metro!

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Freebies not so free · 763 weeks ago

Replacement cards depend on whether or not they deem the card broke because it was defective (their fault) or because of use or misuse (your fault), wherein no replacement card is given. Guess which they usually choose. You can always mail the card in to see if its replaceable or not, but why waste the postage on the hassle.

Good news is the cards recently (or soon?) are going down to 2.50, worth it for the increased ease of use and frequent freebies...especially on the bus! (My card doesn't register half the time depending on the bus and the quality of their beepers, and the drivers get annoyed with that incredibly annoying "error" sound, and wave me past.)

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Dragon of Life · 763 weeks ago

Free rides terminating at Vienna all last week.

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sapphie · 763 weeks ago

I haven't paid for parking at the vienna south lot since thursday!

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yatesc · 763 weeks ago

Weekly passes at Vienna (and possibly elsewhere?) are still the old price, not $51. I don't know why that is exactly.

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@make_lemons · 763 weeks ago

The parking gates are usually in the up position @ the Minnesota Ave parking garage. I see it most days on the commute home. Its been like that for years. I at first thought it was because the garage was partially under construction, but cars have been parking their for at least a year now (for free)....

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Anon and Broke · 763 weeks ago

wow. I feel unloved. My card has been working on the orange line deducting the chokingly-hirer fare without delay. As far as I can tell the parking areas are doing the same.

woe.. alas.. alas my asterisks I get no break! ;-)

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alieblue 19p · 763 weeks ago

parking gate was up at one exit at Greenbelt last week. However everyone was still scanning their SmarTrip card... I got a free parking that day! :)

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Howdy · 763 weeks ago

Free PM peak rides terminating at Vienna twice last week, and have not paid for parking at least four times in the South Garage there, including last night.

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Frank · 763 weeks ago

My trip has been less between Farr. West and WFC. $2.15! I'm OK with that. Also, some gates were closed at WFC as well, but they didn't open the other ones for free parking. Yet.

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Guest · 763 weeks ago

Hope you guys who are getting free parking on the Orange line are enjoying it! Unfortunately, Metro gets me when I first pull into the parking garage I use. The only way to get into it is to pay. The arms are up when I leave at the end of the day, but it doesn't make a difference since I paid first thing in the morning.

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idk · 763 weeks ago

Well at Vienna this evening, the gate to exit would not go up, even if you swipped your credit card. A passenger would have to get out to hold the gate up. Needless to say, I didn't pay.

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Guest · 762 weeks ago

The past two days the parking at WFC has been free. The gates have been up when leaving the parking lot in the evening. There is a large parking garage there so I can only imagine how much revenue has been lost. While I have enjoyed the $9 savings, I know I will pay doubley down the road in fare increases, when metro tallies their losses.

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guest · 762 weeks ago

been charged off peak fares from rockville to gallery place (during peak (and peak of the peak, actually)) a few times lately.

no, i'm not telling wmata. :)