WMATA’s SmarTrip Card
and
SmartBenefits System
April 2013
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Table of Contents
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What is a SmartTrip card?
What are the benefits of a SmarTrip card?
What are the current shortcomings of SmarTrip cards?
Where do I get a SmarTrip card?
Why should I register my SmarTrip card?
How can I register your SmarTrip card?
How do I determine my SmarTrip card number?
How do I provide a 20 digit card number within the USPTO’s TSS?
How do I add value to a SmarTrip card?
How do I use the value on a SmarTrip card?
What providers currently accept SmarTrip cards?
What is WMATA’s SmartBenefits system?
What is the SmartBenefits “Autoload” process?
What are SmarTrip/SmartBenefits purses?
What providers don’t currently accept SmarTrip cards, and what are the options?
SmartBenefits application, allocation and order process diagrams
What are some of the pitfalls to be aware of regarding the SmarTrip and SmartBenefits
processes?
Links and Online Resources
Critical dates for applications and allocations
Slide(s)
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What is a SmartTrip card?
• SmarTrip cards are stored-value cards.
• They can also be used to access employerprovided transit subsidy benefits provide via
WMATA’s SmartBenefits system.
• They are contactless, permanent, and
reloadable.
• The maximum value for personal stored value is
$300.
• They can be registered as Senior and/or
Disabled.
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What are the benefits of a
SmarTrip card?
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They are widely accepted.
They are easy to use.
There are several options for adding value.
Fares may be discounted when using a
SmarTrip card.
• One of only a few ways to pay for parking at
WMATA parking facilities.
• Personal stored value on a lost card can be
recovered.
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What are the current shortcomings
of SmarTrip cards?
• They are not universally accepted.
• Only a limited number of pass products
are currently available through the use of a
SmarTrip card.
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Where do I get a SmarTrip card?
• Purchase online
• Metro sales offices
• Vending machines at Metrorail stations with
Metro-operated parking lots
• Retail outlets
• Commuter stores
See http://wmata.com/fares/smartrip/ for
additional information and links.
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Why should I register my SmarTrip
card?
• To be able to recover the personal stored value
on a lost card.
• To be able to use WMATA’s SmartBenefits
system.
IMPORTANT: Your SmarTrip card registration
must match your USPTO PALM/Employee
Locator (http://es/emlocator/locator.htm)
information for transit benefits to be provided via
the SmartBenefits system.
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How can I register your
SmarTrip card?
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Online - recommended method!
(https://smartrip.wmata.com/Registration/Register.aspx),
When purchasing (where offered), and
By mail
Can be registered as Senior and/or Disabled.
For changes and inquires go to
https://smartrip.wmata.com/Account/AccountLogin.aspx
or contact the SmarTrip Regional Customer Service
center at 1-888-SMARTRIP.
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How do I determine my SmarTrip
card number?
See the examples below to determine the
correct number to use for
SmarTrip/SmartBenefits allocations.
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Example 1: [012345678]
Example 2: [012345678] 3
Example 3: 0020 00 [01 2345 678] 1
Example 4: [0167 0693 4564 7992 9601] –
Please see the following slide for special instructions on providing a
20 digit card number in the USPTO’s Transit Subsidy System (TSS) !
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How do I provide a 20 digit card
number in the USPTO’s TSS?
1.Enter nine 0’s (e.g., 000000000) in the
SmarTrip Card number field, and
2.Enter the 20 digit SmarTrip card number in
the “Applicant Comments” section of your
application.
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How do I add value to a SmarTrip
card?
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Cash
Credit card
Unused Farecards
Used Farecards with a value of less than
$20
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How do I use the value on a
SmarTrip card?
• SmarTrip cards can only be used at
SmarTrip enabled faregates and
fareboxes.
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What providers currently accept
SmarTrip cards?
Metrorail
Metrobus
Arlington Regional Transit (ART)
Alexandria’s DASH
DC Circulator
Fairfax Connector
Fairfax’s City-University-Energysaver (CUE)
Loudoun County Commuter Bus
Montgomery County’s RideOn
Prince George’s County’s TheBus
PRTC OmniRide
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What is WMATA’s SmartBenefits
system?
• A web-based system for employers to provide transit
benefits to employees electronically.
• Benefits can either be:
– automatically debited (Autoloaded) from the applicable
SmarTrip/SmartBenefits account on a per fare/fee paid basis,
– allocated directly to vanpools or other transit providers that
accept allocations directly from WMATA, or
– allocated to www.CommuterDirect.com (a fare media distributor
operated by the Arlington County Department of Environmental
Services).
• You must have a SmarTrip card to use the
SmartBenefits system and your SmarTrip card number
will be your SmartBenefits account number.
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What is the SmartBenefits
“Autoload” process?
With Autoload your benefit will
remain in your SmartBenefits
account, and much like a debit card
the fare will be deducted from your
account when you tap your card at a
faregate or farebox.
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What are SmarTrip/SmartBenefits
purses?
(slide 1 of 3)
In order to implement IRS required restrictions
regarding the use of transit benefits, WMATA
has created what they’re calling “purses” on
your SmarTrip card. They have created three
purses, Personal stored value, Transit, and
Parking. The Transit and Parking purses will
only contain benefits provided through
employer programs, such as the USPTO’s
Public Transit Subsidy program. The Personal
stored value purse will contain the stored value
from all other sources.
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What are SmarTrip/SmartBenefits
purses?
(slide 2 of 3)
It is important to note that the balance in the
Personal stored value purse will not be
displayed on faregates or fareboxes as long
as transit benefits remain available via the
transit purse!
Your Personal stored value purse allows you to
load additional amounts to cover either transit or
parking. Transit and parking payments will be
deducted from your Transit and Parking benefits
purses first. If and when those funds are
exhausted, payments will be deducted from your
Personal stored value purse.
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What are SmarTrip/SmartBenefits
purses?
(slide 3 of 3)
You can view:
• Your Personal stored value purse balance at any
Farecards and Passes machine.
• Your Transit purse balance at any faregate or farebox.*
• Your Parking purse balance at any Metrorail parking
target.*
• All of your balances and transactions by creating an
online SmarTrip account. Go to
https://smartrip.wmata.com/Account/AccountLogin.aspx
and click on Manage Your Account Online.
* If a portion of your fare or parking fee comes from your
Personal stored value purse (due to insufficient funds in
your Transit or Parking purses), the amount displayed will
be the balance from your Personal stored value purse. 18
What providers don’t currently
accept SmarTrip cards, and what
are the options?
• VRE, MARC and MTA Bus Service – SmartBenefits can be
allocated to www.CommuterDirect.com and orders can be placed
with www.CommuterDirect.com for fare media (see slide 20).
• MTA Bus Service - SmartBenefits can also be allocated directly to
the MTA Bus Service and orders can be placed with MTA Bus
Service for fare media (see slide 21).
• Vanpools, MetroAccess, D&B Bus, Quicks Commuter Service,
Martz/National Coach Works and some other transit providers
that don’t accept SmarTrip cards – SmartBenefits can be
allocated directly to the provider if they have adopted WMATA’s
SmartBenefits fare payment system (see slide 22). Riders are
encouraged to consult with their provider to determine any
registration and/or ordering processes and procedures related
to use of the SmartBenefits fare payment system.
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SmartBenefits Application, Allocation
and Order Process Diagrams
(slide 1 of 4)
SmarTrip ONLY
APPLICANT
APPLY
Application must be made
by the 1st business day
of the month before
Finance must get
benefits uploaded by the
15th of the month before
USPTO
TSS
(http://tss.uspto.gov/tss/validation.do)
WMATA
SmartBenefits
SmarTrip card
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SmartBenefits Application, Allocation
and Order Process Diagrams
(slide 2 of 4)
CommuterDirect
Passenger Allocation Reference Guide:
http://wmata.com/pdfs/business/Smart
Benefits_Guide_MARC_VRE.pdf
(http://tss.uspto.gov
/tss/validation.do)
(www.commuterdirect.com)
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(https://www.smartrip.com/sbftp/vplpat.login)
SmartBenefits Application, Allocation
and Order Process Diagrams
(slide 3 of 4)
Maryland Transit Authority (MTA)
APPLICANT
APPLY
Application must be made
by the 1st business day
of the month before
ALLOCATE
ORDER
(only required if all
fares are not to be
paid using a
SmarTrip card)
Passenger Allocation Reference Guides:
http://wmata.com/pdfs/business/SmartBenefits_
Ref_Guide_MTA_Commuter_Buses.pdf and
http://www.mta.maryland.gov/electronicsmartbenefits
By the 25th of the
month before
Allocation requests must be
completed by the 20th of the
month before for MTA
USPTO
TSS
(http://tss.uspto.gov
/tss/validation.do)
Finance must get
benefits uploaded by the
15th of the month before
MTA Passes
All allocations are processed
MTA Bus Service
by WMATA on the 1st
day of the month
(https://mta.maryland.gov/pass
-store)
WMATA
SmarTrip card
SmartBenefits
(https://www.smartrip.com/sbftp/vplpat.login)
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SmartBenefits Application, Allocation
and Order Process Diagrams
(slide 4 of 4)
Other Providers
(Vanpools, MetroAccess, and some other transit providers that don’t accept SmarTrip cards)
Passenger Allocation Reference Guide:
http://wmata.com/business/employer_fare_prog
ram/vanpool_transit.cfm
APPLICANT
APPLY
ALLOCATE
(only required if all
fares are not to be
paid using a
SmarTrip card)
Application must be made
by the 1st business day
of the month before
Allocation requests must be
completed by the last day of the
month before for other providers
USPTO
TSS
(http://tss.uspto.gov
/tss/validation.do)
Finance must get
benefits uploaded by the
15th of the month before
All allocations are processed
by WMATA on the 1st
day of the month
Other Providers
(Vanpools, MetroAccess, and commuter bus
services that don’t accept SmarTrip cards)
WMATA
SmarTrip card
SmartBenefits
(https://www.smartrip.com/sbftp/vplpat.login)
Note: Some registration or ordering
process(es) may also be required by
some other providers.
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What are some of the pitfalls to be
aware of regarding the SmarTrip
and SmartBenefits processes?
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SmartBenefit allocations made via WMATA’s SmartBenefits system, once
done, can’t be undone!
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SmartBenefit allocations must be done in advance
– by the 15th of the month before the benefit month for allocations to
www.CommuterDirect.com,
– by the 20th of the month before the benefit month for allocations to MTA Bus
Service, and
– by the last day of the month before the benefit month for allocations directly to
providers.
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Coordination of allocations and orders
– Allocations are recurring and must be modified or deleted/canceled as needed.
– CommuterDirect orders can be one-time or recurring, and are independent of
allocations made via WMATA’s SmartBenefits system (e.g., recurring orders
continue to be processed even if allocations stop).
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Links and Online Resources
• USPTO’s Transit Subsidy intranet web page –
http://ptoweb.uspto.gov/ptointranet/ohr/employees/transit_subsidy/transit.htm
• WMATA’s SmarTrip and SmartBenefits web pages –
http://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/ and http://www.wmata.com/business/employer_fare_program/
• CommuterDirect.com’s home page –
www.commuterdirect.com
• MTA Bus Service’s Electronic SmartBenefits web page –
http://www.mta.maryland.gov/electronic-smartbenefits
• WMATA’s Van Pools & Transit Services web page –
http://www.wmata.com/business/employer_fare_program/vanpool_transit.cfm
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Critical Dates for Applications and
Allocations
• 1st business day of the month - Last day to apply for benefits for
the next month. (Example: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 for
October 2013).
• 15th day of the month - Last day benefits are to be allocated to
www.CommuterDirect.com within WMATA’s SmartBenefits system
for the next month.
• 20th day of the month - Last day benefits are to be allocated to
MTA Bus Service within WMATA’s SmartBenefits system for the
next month.
• Last day of the month - Last day benefits can be allocated directly
to vanpools or other transit providers within WMATA’s SmartBenefits
system for the next month.
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QUESTIONS?
E-mail
Transit_Subsidy_Coordinator@uspto.gov
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