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Future of Metro fares could be smartphones, credit cards

By Ari Ashe

WASHINGTON — As Metro moves away from paper fare cards to SmarTrip, the agency also looks toward the next generation of paying fares.

Metro begins a pilot program in 2015 to test fare gates with near-field communication (NFC) that would allow passengers to pay for a ride with an equipped credit card or smartphone.

One Metro staffer says if paper cards are 1970s, SmarTrip cards are 1990s and NFC technology is 2010s.

“This will make things more convenient for our passengers and reduce wait times, especially on buses where people reload their cards with cash,” says Tom Randall, Director of Payment Services at Metro.

The pilot program will take place at 10 stations: Suitland, Union Station, Pentagon City, Farragut West, Shady Grove, Eisenhower Avenue, Ballston, Gallery Place, Navy Yard and Pentagon.

It’ll also include 50 buses and two parking lanes.

Metro will recruit more than 2,000 passengers for the pilot program, operated through Acenture.

“In most cases, these will replace existing gates. Those gates will be specific for the pilot customers during the pilot phase,” says Randall, who says it means the traditional customers will have fewer gates at the test stations.

Each will have one test fare gate, which will have signs to let regular passengers know that it’s only for pilot program users. While Metro hasn’t finalized how the signage would look, the idea would be to make it similar to E-ZPass only lanes at local bridges.

Metro says these new fare gates would not be deployed for general use until at least May 2017. Full implementation could take until 2020.

“This is not something in the near term. It’s years before we’ll get to this. I want to make that clear,” says Metro General Manager Richard Sarles.

The agency says using NFC technology will allow both regular riders and out-of- town tourists to ride on Metro without converting their money into Metro money.

Google Wallet uses NFC technology, which means some people could simply tap their smartphone on the fare gate to pay. Isis is a similar app that does the same.

Credit card companies are also integrating NFC technology.

Mastercard calls it PayPass, while Visa calls it payWave.

While most customers don’t get a NFC credit card as a default, you can contact your credit card company and ask them for one.

Vendors are pushing for NFC to become more mainstream, like in Europe, after the Target data breach. Proponents argue that NFC technology is harder for criminals to replicate than a magnetic strip when credit card data is stolen.

Metro is also working with regional partners like MARC, VRE, Montgomery County RideOn, Prince George’s County TheBus, PRTC, Alexandria DASH, Arlington ART, Fairfax County Connector and DC Circulator and Streetcar and the Purple Line so that passengers could pay for all services with one NFC device.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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