ART Fares

Regular Fare

• Regular cash fare: $1.35
• Regular fare with a SmarTrip card: $1.25
• Transfer from Metrorail to ART with SmarTrip card: $.75
• Transfer between Metrobus and ART with SmarTrip card: Free
• Without a SmarTrip card, transfers require full fare
• Children under five ride free
• Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington employees with hospital ID ride free on ART 51 and ART 52 only

Tokens and Passes

• Gold ART tokens, Metrobus tokens, and the Metrobus Flash Pass are accepted as full fare.

Senior/Disabled Discount

• Fare for senior citizens (age 65 and over with any ID that shows date of birth) and people with disabilities (with WMATA ID or Medicare card): $.60
• With Senior/Disabled SmarTrip card: $.60
• Transfer from Metrorail with SmarTrip: $.60
• Transfer between Metrobus and ART with SmarTrip: Free 

iRide Teen Discount

• Fare for teens with middle or high school ID: $.60 cash or green iRide token
• Give iRide tokens to the driver -- the farebox won't accept them
• More about iRide

Where to Buy

• ART and Metrobus tokens, passes, and SmarTrip Cards are available at The Commuter Store, Mobile Commuter Store, or online at CommuterDirect.com
• iRide tokens for teens must be purchased in person at The Commuter Store

ART no longer issues or accepts paper transfers

The Arlington County Board approved the elimination of paper transfers for Arlington Transit (ART), effective January 4, 2009. This action was made in conjunction with Metro, which also ended paper transfers.

ART encourages its customers to get and use SmarTrip cards so they can continue to get discounted fares when transferring bus-to-bus, bus-to-rail, and rail-to-bus.

SmarTrip is now onboard ART

ART customers now enjoy the same convenience as Metrobus and Metrorail customers. The entire ART bus fleet has been fitted with new fareboxes that accept SmarTrip®. Customers simply touch their SmarTrip® card to a target to pay their fare. And effective July 1, 2008, SmarTrip® card users save 10 cents off the cash fare.

Students must pay by cash or iRide token to get the student discount. Give the iRide token to the driver—the farebox won’t accept them.

Seniors and persons with disabilities in possession of a WMATA ID or Medicare card may purchase a Senior/Disabled SmarTrip card that deducts a discounted fare each time it is used. Seniors can use any valid proof of age to purchase and use the discounted card. Disabled persons must have a Metro ID on file. Contact The Commuter Store for more information.

Watch a video about how to get and use SmarTrip cards.

FAQs about SmarTrip® on ART

Q: How do I pay my ART fare using SmarTrip?

A: Touch your SmarTrip® card to the SmarTrip decal on the top of the farebox. It will deduct the correct fare. Or pay your fare with cash (no pennies), tokens or show your pass to the driver.

Q: Can I add value to my SmarTrip® card on the bus?

A: Yes. Just follow the ADD VALUE instructions on the farebox. Press the button on the bottom left.  Touch your SmarTrip card to the bulls-eye target.  Add value to your SmarTrip card by inserting bills and coins (no pennies, no ART tokens). Touch your SmarTrip card again to the bulls-eye target to add that value to your account.  Touch the SmarTrip card a third time to pay your fare for the ride. You can also add value at any Metrorail station using cash, a credit card or a debit card.

Q: Where can I buy a SmarTrip® card?

A: You can buy one at selected Metro stations (those with large parking facilities) from a SmarTrip® dispensing machine. You can also buy SmarTrip cards at any of the three locations of The Commuter Store® or purchased online from Commuter Direct.com® for $5, with no fare value.

Q: How does the SmarTrip® farebox deal with transfers when using a SmarTrip® card?

A: It’s simple and automatic. If you transfer (within two hours) between one ART to another ART, between Metrorail and ART, or between ART and Metrobus or the other local public transit services using the Regional Bus Transfer, the farebox will “read” the transfer information on your card. Every public transit service in the region is using SmartCard except for The Bus, OmniRide, OmniLink, MARC and VRE.

Q: Where are the Commuter Stores?

A: The Commuter Store has four Arlington locations: Ballston, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Shirlington.

For more information about SmarTrip visit www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm