Arlington Transit (ART) Low and Reduced Fare Pilot Programs

Arlington County’s Department of Human Services identified 7,200 low-income Arlington residents enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) prior to March 11, 2022 to be eligible for a no-fare experimental program.

Eligible participants received an invitation to collect SmarTrip cards preloaded with $150 (the approximate value of 75 trips). This program aimed to provide more data on residents who are in most need or have greatest interest in a no-fare plan. 

For more information and distribution dates and locations, visit Arlington Transit's program page.

Arlington Public Schools (APS) assisted the Department of Environmental Services (DES) in identifying 2,400 students. These middle and high school students live in an area not served by APS yellow school buses, attend Immersion or Montessori schools outside of their home school zone, or at the further edges of a walk-zone.  

Students participating in the pilot program will receive a pre-registered iRide SmarTrip card which will automatically reload with $10 a week during the school year, through June 2023. (This subsidy does not include summer break and spring break.) These cards will give them free access to ART Bus to help them get to school. 

The first 800 cards will be distributed in six APS schools, and more cards will be distributed as registration needs indicate. 

This pilot will study ridership behavior and patterns of students to determine the unique needs of young passengers

As of fall 2022, all trips on ART bus are free to students with an iRide SmarTrip card. More information is available on the ART website.

Participants of the No and Reduced Fare ART Bus Pilot Programs may also use their SmarTrip cards on Metrorail and Metro bus. The iRide SmarTrip Card student half-off discount only applies to ART Bus.

Yes, participants in the Low-Income Fare Assistance Pilot can load their SmarTrip cards on Apple Pay or Google Pay. 
 
iRide SmarTrip cards cannot be loaded on smart devices for mobile pay.

Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County Department of Human Services will be in contact with the students and individuals identified for the pilots. For more information visit the ART Bus website.