Metro will no longer allow riders to accumulate negative balances on their SmarTrip cards, beginning Jan. 8. (Marlon Correa/The Washington Post)The day after Thanksgiving brought two SmarTrip-related announcements for Metro riders, many of whom are probably taking a reprieve from the stresses of commuting to spend time with family this weekend. Metro will soon stop allowing negative balances on SmarTrip cards amid its push to enforce its fares, as the agency cracks down on fare evaders. While not technically fare evasion, negative balances have cost Metro an estimated $25 million in 17 years. Riders loaded more than 6,500 SelectPasses onto SmarTrip cards in October, accounting for $800,000 in sales, Ly said.

Source: Washington Post November 24, 2017 19:26 UTC