Riders will be able to use their iPhone to gain access to Metro stations like this one. Image by Elvert Barnes licensed under Creative Commons.

WMATA announced Tuesday that riders can use iPhones to pay for travel on Metro, a proposal last floated publicly in December 2019. We asked volunteers and members of the GGWash Neighborhood to share their thoughts on what the move could mean.

What could it add?

Several contributors highlighted potential benefits, including ease of management for locals and visitors, and the value of the particular technology WMATA chose as opposed to other options.

Tracy Hadden Loh said, “I think we shouldn’t underestimate what a good idea it is to make something easier to pay for. I keep my SmarTrip card in my phone case, so it LOOKS like I’m paying with my phone. Almost every time I ride someone stops me and asks how to set that up, because they are sick of dealing with SmarTrip. As someone who has like 15 SmarTrip cards…I agree, this is legit annoying.”

Andrew Kierig, from the Riders Advisory Council, said, “[I’m] really excited that they’re making the unlimited monthly metrobus+metrorail passes accessible on the app. They’re a steal compared to the cash fare most people pay and making them more accessible (ie., breaking up the monthly charge to two installments for the month) would be another positive step. Also, the app includes bus and rail scheduling/trip planning. Though I think it’s still far behind dcmetrohero.com.”

Geoff Green added, “I’m an out of towner. Coming from out of town to DC or any other big city, one of the biggest pet peeves with using transit is figuring out a whole new fare system and quite frankly even just finding out where to get a transit card. With transit cards on my phone or watch, I can board any bus or train without worrying about how I’m going to pay the fare. I don’t need to worry about losing the card or, if I managed to take one home after a trip, remembering to take it back with me on my next visit. I’m a big fan.”

A GGWash volunteer who didn’t wish to use their name said:

Letting riders add value and purchase passes via the app (rather than the clunky website or downright unusable fare machines) is a big improvement. Hopefully, making it easier for riders to buy passes will help increase their use - they’re a good value! [Also] This might be a big boost to tourism, making it easier for visitors to get access to cards and pay for rides. Could also make it easier for a family with multiple riders handle a Metro trip.

“My take is it’s fine as long as other payment options are at least retained given that even now, not everybody has cell phones or may use more disposable phones,” said another neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. “Up in Baltimore, MTA’s CharmPass was adopted by a fair amount of users surprisingly quickly.” This commenter further noted that this move wouldn’t have been possible before Metro’s recent improvements in wireless coverage in stations and tunnels.

Benjamin Nichols said, “I’m definitely happy that metro is taking this approach and not a slower credit-card based approach as my former classmate pointed out.”

Your iPhone may soon be your new SmarTrip card. Image by GKJ.

What are some potential drawbacks?

Commenters highlighted equity and privacy considerations. Others noted potential technological drawbacks to the phone-based approach chosen by WMATA, including compatibility with bikeshare systems.

Stephen Hudson said, “I think this is good. That said, [i]t’s an interesting juxtaposition to see WMATA improving the ease of riding for those with smartphones, but trying to penalize those using cash (see elite projection). Obviously, cash riders create problems with dwell times and that sort of thing, but I’d like to see WMATA working to find creative ways of improving ease of access for these riders, rather than create more headaches.”

Another contributor who wished to speak anonymously said:

One thing I would like to see is a move toward less pay at point of service for public transit. Decriminalization of fare avoidance, kids riding free, etc…Or, perhaps we should look at paying by phone as a convenience for those who can do it, and ask for a surcharge for this convenience? I know this moves towards a tiered service, but it would be better than the current pattern, where WMATA charges more for using older tech (e.g. cash versus card).

Ronit Dancis said, “This is awesome. [But] please note equity issues…The critical piece is whether WMATA plans to eventually phase out SmartTrip cards or make them a far inferior [or costlier] option to paying by phone. That would leave non-smartphone users and the unbanked out in the cold.”

Kierig also said: “[If] WMATA were to move to charge more for using a regular SmarTrip (as the board considered with cash fares on buses this year), [t]hat raises serious equity concerns, especially for those who are unbanked/lack smartphones. [Also], there’s no privacy policy for the new mobile pay. Just the regular WMATA privacy policy.”

Another contributor had this to say about the upgrade: “The inability to share accounts between a card and a phone is a huge downside. I get my SmartBenefits to my card, and for that reason I won’t risk changing that to my phone.”

Nichols also said:

[F]or me, the disabling of the physical card is a bridge too far. I know that in the past I’ve had to re-set up my apple wallet when I get a new phone, even if I’m restoring that phone from backup. If I have to do that with a disabled SmartTrip card what happens? Is my card attached to that first phone forever?

Other commenters reflected they’d prefer extended early morning/late night hours, better bus stop placement or other service improvements.

David Zipper had some questions about the service that he posed on Twitter:

You’ve got questions? We’ve got (a couple) answers

Some contributors queried whether iphones could work for payment on other regional networks. Per the press release, the phone-based mode will work for all regional bus providers, including ART, DASH, Fairfax Connector, Cue, Ride On, TheBus, Circulator, Loudoun County Transit, and OmniRide.

Many commenters (for GGWash and elsewhere) questioned the risk posed by phones running out of battery. But, WMATA has a plan for that stating:

On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR and newer, you can use power reserve with your Express Transit card. Power reserve enables you to quickly pay for rides and is available for up to five hours when your iPhone needs to be charged.

Commenters also wondered about plans for viability with other phone types.

Casey Watts said, “I use an Android phone, but I have a feeling Android support will come out before most of us are back to our full use of the Metro.”

More questions are answered in WMATA’s FAQs about how the change will work.

Readers: What do you think about the changes?

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Tagged: equity, metrobus, metrorail, transit, wmata

Caitlin Rogger is deputy executive director at Greater Greater Washington. Broadly interested in structural determinants of social, economic, and political outcomes in urban settings, she worked in public health prior to joining GGWash. She lives in Capitol Hill.