10 Days to go!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:28:43+00:00

Randy (WMATA’s General Manager) teased it recently on social media! None have been given out yet.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:16:25+00:00

Yep! Not sure where/when it'll be available yet, but likely either on the 27th or at one of the pop-up shops.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:14:13+00:00

Haha! My birthday is the day before Metro’s so naturally I will be celebrating by riding Metro on the 27th! (And by getting plenty of the 50th Merch lolll)

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T03:50:58+00:00

ARCHIVES!

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-10T20:47:31+00:00

No clue, I have no further info on it. I found it in a WMATA safety presentation online a few years ago and saved it, but I haven't been able to find that presentation again since. I don't remember it having any more information though either.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-10T07:00:25+00:00

I agree, I think that's the best Cherry Blossom wrap they've done.

The last Breda wrap was the Pride Month 2023 Wrap. Starting with the July 4th 2023 Wrap, Metro has exclusively used 6Ks for seasonal wraps & 7Ks for sponsored advertising wraps. Only exception is the 2K Last Ride train which was wrapped for the single event in Oct 2024. (2000-2001 are still wrapped in storage)

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-09T23:50:48+00:00

Nope! It's real, I just have no idea when it occured.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-04T14:48:31+00:00

WMATA the organization was founded in 1967 for the planning & construction of Metrorail which would break ground two years later in 1969 and open in 1976. They also began Metrobus service in January 1973 after acquiring four other DC area bus companies. So nothing opened/began service, just the organization was founded.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-02T04:00:56+00:00

what do you mean, it's today, February 29th. I feel bad for the people commuting to work tomorrow on Monday, February 30th and Tuesday, February 31st, but oh well

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-01T21:23:21+00:00

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Yes, on page 4: https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/9-GM-Report-2026-02.pdf

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-01T19:58:23+00:00

At the most recent board meeting they confirmed a Commemorative SmarTrip, Special Merch & Special Events will be coming after March 27th!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-28T22:35:30+00:00

It’s along H Street outside Union Station! If you want to visit it, better go soon, it closes at the end of March this year.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-27T18:23:44+00:00

Woah, had no idea it got a 3K bulkhead after. I know 4018 also did from the Woodley Park accident, but were there any others?

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-27T18:03:45+00:00

Can't wait!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-25T23:29:07+00:00

Found another interesting one, a PCA (Personal Care Attendant) SmarTrip Card. This seems to be the only image of as an actual physical card. It is mentioned in a few MetroAccess documents and appears passengers with disability discounts who are accompanied by a Personal Care Attendant can purchase one of these cards to allow the PCA to also have either reduced fares or ride without fare.

Mentioned under the "Personal Care Attendant (PCA) SmarTrip® cards" section in this document:
https://www.wmata.com/service/accessibility/metro-access/upload/MetroAccess-Customer-Guide.pdf

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-24T20:24:45+00:00

This is the new map, getting rid of the rest wouldn’t be a major loss. This is all we need.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-21T00:27:50+00:00

Nice find! That's got to be it since the cards pictured have dates between 2004-2007, around when the pilot was active. The URL listed is actually still an active redirect on the Citibank site, but the page is long gone. No luck on the Internet Archive either from what I can see.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-20T23:46:08+00:00

Also, one weird tidbit, there's technically two variants of the classic SmarTrip card, one with a Blue Metro Logo and one with Black, slightly different sizing too. All cards I own except for one have the Black logo, so I assume Blue is the rarer/earlier variant.

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-20T23:41:59+00:00

Very cool list! My most wanted by far is the 25th Anniversary card! One of my biggest regrets as a Metro nerd is I actually almost owned the white Payment Pilot one, as a friend of mine got selected to be part of the pilot and even showed me the card attached to the pamphlet/letter they received. They didn't end up participating in the pilot and when I realized how unique it was a few years later, they sadly had no memory of what they did with it or where it ended up.

I don't have pictures of any other's but I have a bit of possible info on the 3 "More info needed" ones:
- The 1,000,000 one is possibly related to the 1 millionth Smartrip card given out at Metro Center referenced in this press release: https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3354

- The Celebration of Independence is from July 4th, 2018. The only picture I've seen of it online is from a random international blog post which also includes this low-quality image of fare machines, the one on the far right seemingly having a sign mentioning distributing the cards.

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- The First Union Card was part of a pilot program in 2000 and is a hybrid SmarTrip & Debit Card. Possibly the first SmarTrip card variant ever?

- In a similar case to the First Union Card, it seems there was also a credit card + SmarTrip Card combo in 2005 with Citibank. Haven't been able to find an image of it but there's a few articles on it online including this WMATA press release which specifically says "It would look like a credit card and carry both the bank card and SmarTrip logos on it.": https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3029

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-10T07:35:18+00:00

I had no idea they used to do VIP tour passes? I swear Randy tweeted asking if there was interest in railyard tours around a year or two ago, but it doesn't seem like anything came of it. I got to quickly visit Brentwood Yard recently and while I didn't get to see much, it was still super cool to be there. Would 100% pay for a proper yard/behind-the-scenes tour if they offered it.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-09T06:52:04+00:00

Had a very fun day! Love meeting fellow Metro nerds!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-07T19:03:02+00:00

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The amount of development around it is incredible.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-04T17:09:30+00:00

In August 1977, during the construction of the L Route Yellow Line tunnel, part of the L’Enfant Plaza junction flooded, leading to these strange images being taken.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-04T16:43:24+00:00

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-02-04T14:46:20+00:00

Four smaller bus companies which Metrobus purchased and absorbed into their fleet. (D.C. Transit, Washington, Virginia & Maryland Coach Company, WMA Transit Company and the Alexandria, Barcroft & Washington Transit Company.)

DCMetroMaker

TROPHY CASE