Giant Food Sells D.C. Metro System Cards

WENDY TOTH

LANDOVER, Md. — Twenty-six Giant Food locations throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia began selling reloadable farecards for use on the area's Metrobus and Metrorail systems this month.

Prior to this expansion, only “a few” Giant Food stores sold the cards, which can also be purchased online, at Metro sales offices, in commuter stores and from vending machines at subway stations with parking facilities, Giant spokesman Jamie Miller told SN.

With the expansion, riders from areas surrounding Washington, such as Landover and Arlington, Va., will have this added access to the cards.

“It is a convenience for our customers, who pick them up while they are in our stores for groceries or prescriptions” Miller said. Many Giant Food stores are located very close to local transportation centers, he added.

Greater ease for travelers is the aim for the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. “By partnering with neighborhood stores, it becomes easier for our customers to get a hold of the SmarTrip cards,” Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato told SN. “We want all of our customers to use them as opposed to paying cash or buying a new fare card, because it is faster and easier for the passengers.”

Giant was issued 900 of the $5 cards, which were divided among the 26 stores. The retailer will be selling them at its customer-service desks.

Participating supermarkets will hang signage in the customer-service area to promote the card sales.

“Giant and Metro are also going to cross-promote by each having the announcement featured on our websites,” Asato said.

The SmarTrip card was introduced in 1999 for Metrorail riders and its capability was expanded to Mertobus riders in 2004. SmarTrip cards are required for payment at most Metro-operated parking facilities. Currently, 63% of Mertorail riders and 21% of Mertobus riders use SmarTrip.