SmarTrip

Good thing this is an optional app. It seems that, just like everything else WMATA-related, the development of this app suffers from incomplete requirements and lack of quality supervision. I have one very simple use case: plan a trip from one station to another station and see how much it will cost. I could not figure out how to do that. Is it even possible? I’ll never know because I deleted it. WMATA management- please yank this app from the store it makes DC look bad.

I don’t normally write app reviews but this app is so bad that after 15 minutes of trying to reset my password I gave up and created a new account. I spent another 15 minutes trying to create an account and could not do it. This is a disgrace.

Why this app even still exists is beyond me. Most other transit systems in major cities worldwide simply use ApplePay, simplifying everyone’s life and encouraging transit use with its convenience. WMATA should follow suit and do away with Smartcards altogether.

In simple terms the UI this app uses is awful. The code is written so poorly/un intuitively that everything makes you angry. Something as simple as putting in a birthday will leave you angry. Also who’s idea to make first letters of names not automatically capitalized and autofill address not work is beyond me.

Pros: seems like security is a high priority. Able to add card value from anywhere. Not user friendly. Difficult to add card value. Multiple prompts for password entry. App can’t easily handle multiple addresses - living vs billing. Development- get on. A platform with 4 minutes before your next train and try adding value without a stored credit card. As another reviewer had mentioned to just go to station kiosk and add value to your card there, it’s simpler quicker and easier.

I loaded two passes on this app and when I tried to load funds it was rejected by an error code. I was unable to load funds but every attempt I made it deducted $1 from my credit card

No metro info in trip tools. Only bus info.

Not sure I’ve ever left a review for an app but in this situation, I felt compelled to do so. Full of bugs like you’d expect from any of the cut-rate developers chosen by the DC government to build an app, but the fact that you recharge the card with “Stored Value” that only reflects the transaction in the app randomly (at a different time than the balance is recognized in the station/at gates) is just….chef’s kiss. No other app processes transactions like this, but what did I expect.

Requires detailed personal information which is not necessary for a metro app. Requests to track you at all times. Also took over 15 minutes to set up due to the unnecessary data collection. NYC Metro North manages to do it without requiring any information at all. Maybe talk to them.

the biggest waste of time. I thought this would let me bypass the stupidity of the plastic pass but for some reason the app requires the online purchase of a plastic card to be delivered before you can even log in. I just wanted to pay fare digitally and wasted 20 minutes jumping through hoops to set up the account only to give up and but the plastic pass after all.