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How to use Washington, DC’s Metro Train Transit System

May 31, 2006 on 4:32 pm | In washington dc, travel |

Washington, DC’s subway/train system is referred to as “Metro” and is operated by the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA). While the DC bus system is also technically part of “Metro,” when DC residents say “Metro” they mean the train, not the bus. (When referring to the bus, a DC resident will say “bus.”) This article will keep with that convention and use the term “Metro” only to refer to the train.

The DC Metro connects DC, Maryland, and Virgina. If you’re visiting DC as a tourist, there is a good chance that the Metro can take you where you need to go.

Metro Map
A map of the Metro system can be found in every station and in every Metro train car.

It is important to know that the map is not drawn to scale. As an example, take a look at the following stations located along the Red Line - the Metro Center and Chinatown stations are a mere 2 blocks apart. The Cleveland Park and Woodley Park stations are 1.1 miles apart.

Doesn’t look that way on the map, does it? Tricky.

The fare is based on the distance you travel
A ride on the Metro can cost as little as $1.35 or as much as $3.90 - the fare varies based on the length of your trip. There is a handy chart hanging inside every Metro station that will tell you how much your trip will cost.

Payment options - Farecards and Passes
Visitors to DC have 2 options for paying Metro fares, the Farecard and the Pass.

A Metro Pass will allow you to take unlimited trips on the Metro for a set amount of time - a daily pass, for instance, costs $6.50 and lets you take unlimited Metro rides for one full day. Check the WMATA website for the latest price information.

A Farecard is a pay-as-you-go method for using Metro - you load any amount of money onto a paper farecard and the cost of each ride is automatically deducted. As you exit the Metro station, your new balance will be printed on the Farecard, so you’ll always know how much money you have left.

You can purchase both farecards and passes using one of the handy machines located inside each Metro station.

Note that each member of your party will need his or her own farecard, even children. You cannot share!

Entering the Metro
Most Metro stations are below ground, and are entered by taking an escalator beneath the street. Once you’ve entered the Metro station, you’ll have pass through one of the turnstyles marked with a lit-up green arrow. To operate the turnstyle, insert your Farecard or Pass into the slot located in the front. Your card will travel through the machine and will pop out on top of the turnstyle. Take this card - you will need it to exit the Metro!

Exiting the Metro
When you get to where you’re going, you’ll follow the same procedure to exit the Metro. If you’re using a Farecard, the new balance will be printed on it as you pass through the turnstyle.

If you don’t have enough money on your Farecard to pay for your trip, the turnstyle will not open, and you will not be permitted to exit the Metro. There are machines located near the exit that you can use to add more money to your Metro card.

Ecalator Etiquette - IMPORTANT
When using the escalators in Washington’s Metro stations, be sure to remember the rule “Walk left, stand right.” That is, you should only stand on the right-hand side of the escalator, leaving the left side open for people who wish to walk past you. If you forget, and stand still on the left-hand side, a busy DC resident will not hesitate to let you know that you’re in the way.

Strictly Tourist Stations
You’ll see the “walk left-stand right” rule in action at every DC Metro station, with the exception of Arlington Cemetery and Smithsonian. These are stations used only by tourists, and most of them don’t know any better. Aren’t you glad that you have the inside scoop!

Do not get off at the Pentagon stop
Tourists often get off here thinking that there is something to see. There isn’t - there is nothing for you to see at the Pentagon stop. The only people using it are the thousands of people who work at the Pentagon.

Getting to the Airports

National Airport - This Metro stop takes you directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

West Falls Church - From here, you can take a bus to Dulles Interntional Airport (IAD). The bus costs roughtly $7.

Union Station - From Union Station, you can catch an Amtrak train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). See Amtrak’s website for more information.

Useful Links: WMATA - The Metro’s Website