Low-income Arlington Transit riders can now get half off their bus fares through Metro Lift, a regional discount program.
ART began accepting Metro Lift on all of its routes on July 1, becoming the first of Metro’s regional partners to sign on, according to Metro.
The program gives eligible riders — including people who receive SNAP benefits — 50% off fares on Metrorail and Metrobus, and now on ART buses as well. Metro launched Metro Lift three years ago and has since worked to expand it to regional bus systems. About 18,700 people have enrolled since it launched in 2023, the agency said.
“Arlington is proud to be the first regional partner to adopt Metro Lift,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a statement. “Not only will this change streamline user experience, but it also furthers our commitment to reducing and eliminating roadblocks to low-income residents looking for an affordable and reliable way to get around our community.”
Metro Lift replaces Arlington’s own Low-Income Fare Program, which the county launched during the pandemic and ran on manually distributed, pre-loaded SmarTrip cards. That program ended June 30, and the County Board approved the switch on May 16.
Metro estimates ART’s participation will generate about 8,000 more trips and save riders roughly $21,000 in the first year. Arlington expects replacing its old program to cut administrative and operating costs by about $550,000 in fiscal year 2027, according to the county.
The change supports DMVMoves, a regional initiative to build a more integrated transit network across the D.C. area.
“Metro Lift helps ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing jobs, education, healthcare, and other destinations,” Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said.
Riders can find eligibility details on Metro’s website.
