By Abigail Bender
The University of Maryland Student Government Association launched a MetroCard program to distribute preloaded SmarTrip cards to 175 undergraduate students to help mitigate high transportation costs.
SmarTrip cards can be used to pay fares on Metrorail and Metrobus, and to park at Metro-operated facilities, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, or WMATA.
The SGA allocated a total of $13,475 for the initiative through SGA and sustainability grants, with each SmarTrip card preloaded with $75, said Shubh Agnihotri, SGA’s transportation and infrastructure co-director.
An application form for the cards was created on March 23 for students who may benefit from this program, including low-income students, commuters and student workers.
“We reached the maximum number of applicants last week,” Agnihotri said.
According to SGA’s committees page, the transportation and infrastructure committee communicates with UMD’s Department of Transportation Services, or DOTS, Student Facilities Fund and Division of Information Technology to enhance the maintenance of campus facilities and transportation resources.
The university’s DOTS was hesitant to implement WMATA’s U-Pass program, which provides students at schools such as George Washington University with unlimited Metro rides at a discounted rate, included in their tuition, because students would not be able to opt out of the service if they do not use it frequently, leading to high fees. Therefore, Agnihotri said that this initiative was a more “near-term actionable” approach.
Agnihotri said that almost every student who applied for a card will receive one. SGA approved any undergraduate applicant if they confirmed why receiving a card would benefit academic, professional or social life, which promotes SGA’s commitment to transit equity, Agnihotri added.
Funding for the cards passed in the first week of February, and SGA received the cards last week. Card distribution took place at the Student Organization Resource Center in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union.
Senior nursing student Michelle Franco Morales is a commuter student. Although she did not apply for a card, Morales said this initiative will help fellow commuters who struggle to access reliable transportation options.
“Many students may not have a car to rely on,” Morales said. “It can make it easier for students from different economic backgrounds to get to campus, attend classes and participate in campus opportunities without transportation being a limitation.”
A WMATA service, such as Metrobus, costs $2.25 with a regular fare. Students who use this service to travel back and forth in one week could pay over $20 in fares.
“Transportation costs can add up quickly, especially now that gas prices are going up,” Morales said.
Helen Bash, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences, said she would have taken advantage of this program if she had received a card.
“It is a privilege to have access to free transportation, and many students struggle to find any options,” Bash said. “UMD’s close proximity to Metro stations can be very helpful for these students, but transit fees can add up over time.”
Bash said she does not have a car on campus, so the Metro is a valuable service, especially for internship opportunities.
Students will have greater access to public transportation following the completion of the Purple Line in the winter of 2027, according to USA Today.
Featured Image: A Green Line train leaves the College Park-U of Md Metro Station on April 15, 2026. Photo by Paige Trendell.