As paper fare cards go, a look at how you’ve paid to ride Metro over the years

A look at the fare cards for Inauguration Day from 1993 - 2009. (Courtesy WMATA)
A look at the fare cards for Inauguration Day from 1993 – 2009. (Courtesy WMATA)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
An up-close look at a WMAL-Redskins SmarTrip card. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards, including a tax-free commuting card. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards, including a tax-free commuting card. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A veritable panoply of SmarTrip cards, paper farecards -- even bus tokens. (WMATA)
A veritable panoply of SmarTrip cards, paper fare cards — even bus tokens. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card celebrating Metro's 25th anniversary in 2001. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card celebrating Metro’s 25th anniversary in 2001. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card in 2000. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card in 2000. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
The fare cards during the 10-year anniversary of Metro. (Courtesy WMATA)
A look at the design of one of Metro’s fare cards from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
 A look at the design of one of Metro's fare cards from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
A look at the design of one of Metro’s fare cards from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
A previous Metro fare card.  (Courtesy WMATA)
A look at the design of one of Metro’s fare cards from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
A soccer-themed Metro fare card. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card once in circulation for Metro. (Courtesy WMATA)
A panda graces a Metro fare card. (Courtesy WMATA)
A Metro fare card in circulation in 1992. (Courtesy WMATA)
The National Zoo pandas are on the most-recent Metro fare cards. (Courtesy WMATA)
Paper farecards are permanently out after Saturday. (WMATA)
Paper fare cards are permanently out after Saturday. (Courtesy WMATA)
The one-day pass celebrating the 2009 inauguration of President Obama. At left, Metro employee Charles Legrand loads the passes into a machine. (WMATA)
The one-day pass celebrating the 2009 inauguration of President Obama. At left, Metro employee Charles Legrand loads the passes into a machine. (Courtesy WMATA)
A SmarTrip card celebrated the 10th anniversary of the D.C. Circulator. (D.C. Circulator)
A SmarTrip card celebrated the 10th anniversary of the D.C. Circulator. (Courtesy D.C. Circulator)
The commemorative SmarTrip card for President Obama's second inauguration, in 2013. (WMATA)
The commemorative SmarTrip card for President Obama’s second inauguration, in 2013. (Courtesy WMATA)
A line of SmarTrip cards to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the National Zoo. (WMATA)
A line of SmarTrip cards to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the National Zoo. (Courtesy WMATA)
A special 2014 SmarTrip card celebrates the opening of the Silver Line. (WMATA)
A special 2014 SmarTrip card celebrates the opening of the Silver Line. (Courtesy WMATA)
MetroVanGogh.jpg
Metro’s Van Gogh Commemorative SmarTrip Cards are in honor of an exhibit, currently at The Phillips Collection. (Courtesy WMATA)
A special SmarTrip card commemorated the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon. (WMATA)
A special SmarTrip card commemorated the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon. (Courtesy WMATA)
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A look at the fare cards for Inauguration Day from 1993 - 2009. (Courtesy WMATA)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
An up-close look at a variety of SmarTrip cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards, including a tax-free commuting card. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A variety of SmarTrip paper fare cards. (WTOP/J.J. Green)
A veritable panoply of SmarTrip cards, paper farecards -- even bus tokens. (WMATA)
A fare card celebrating Metro's 25th anniversary in 2001. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card in 2000. (Courtesy WMATA)
A fare card from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
 A look at the design of one of Metro's fare cards from the past. (Courtesy WMATA)
Paper farecards are permanently out after Saturday. (WMATA)
The one-day pass celebrating the 2009 inauguration of President Obama. At left, Metro employee Charles Legrand loads the passes into a machine. (WMATA)
A SmarTrip card celebrated the 10th anniversary of the D.C. Circulator. (D.C. Circulator)
The commemorative SmarTrip card for President Obama's second inauguration, in 2013. (WMATA)
A line of SmarTrip cards to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the National Zoo. (WMATA)
A special 2014 SmarTrip card celebrates the opening of the Silver Line. (WMATA)
MetroVanGogh.jpg
A special SmarTrip card commemorated the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon. (WMATA)

WASHINGTON — As Metro gets ready to celebrate 40 years of rail service later this month, a big change is coming for Metro riders this weekend: the end of sliding an iconic paper fare card with a magnetic strip through faregates to get in and out.

From pandas and commemorative inauguration passes to a simple “welcome aboard,” Metro’s paper fare cards were souvenirs for tourists, and a way of life for commuters, for a long time.

While about 90 percent of all riders had already made the switch to SmarTrip — since Metro has been charging those riding with paper fare cards more for years now — Saturday’s move is still a major milestone that Metro expects will cut down on faregate backups and save the system money.

The “technology” faregates use to accept paper fare cards dates to the 1970s and includes rubber bands. Metro says it will save money by cutting out maintenance of that technology, and that the changes will lead to fewer faregate malfunctions. Metro compares some issues the machines have to paper jams or toner issues in a copy machine.

With all riders using SmarTrip, Metro also projects lines will move more quickly through turnstiles, helping with backups outside stations after Nationals games, during cherry blossom season or on July 4.

Under the plan rolled out in 2014 and solidified last year, Saturday is the final day passengers can use paper fare cards to ride the rail system. Starting Sunday, only SmarTrip cards or D.C. student passes will be accepted.

Riders who have paper fare cards sitting in drawers or wallets can still trade them in to put the value on a new or existing SmarTrip card through June 30. After that, any money remaining on paper fare cards will be lost.

Metro now charges $2 for a SmarTrip card. Since Metro has been charging an additional $1 per ride to those using paper fare cards since 2012, Metro says the $2 charge meant to cover the cost of the SmarTrip card now has a limited impact on riders.

In December, Metro stopped dispensing paper fare cards at stations. Riders can now get a SmarTrip at any of the blue machines at each stop.

In January, Metro transitioned Transit Link Card passes tied to MARC, Virginia Railway Express and MTA Commuter Bus tickets from a paper fare card to a SmarTrip card.

SmarTrip is now the primary mode of payment on Metrobus routes, but bus riders can still pay with cash. Although it is unusual to see a rider use them, Metro does still accept tokens for regular bus fares. Those tokens are no longer sold.

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