Safeway is not selling SmartTrip

January 5, 10:04 PMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

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In regards to today's entry about SmartTrip Cards and paperless transfers, a source working for Safeway in the city tells me customers often come to the store looking for cards. The source's store does not sell cards but customers claim Metro's website lists Safeway as a retail vendor.

You can see Metro's list of retail vendors online. Not one Safeway is on the list.

The confusion could stem for a variety of sources. The Riders Advisory Council notes from October (pdf) state that there are hopes that Safeway will be included as a vendor and a disability guide (pdf) says that select Safeway locations have SmartTrip cards. (The Safeway in question was not listed in the brochure and does not sell cards. No Safeway locations are listed for SmartTrip disability cards, but 18 are listed as selling disabled farecards.)

Metro hasn't yet authorized Safeway as a retail vendor, though a 2006 Washington Post article says otherwise:

Cards are sold online, at Metrorail stations with parking lots, Metro sales offices, area commuter stores and at 11 Giant and Safeway grocery stores in the region.

However, from the looks of columnists and commenters at WTOP, Greater Greater Washington and DCist, Safeway is apparently the one location everybody wants. (And just to throw my hat in the ring: I'm never near the CVS location on the list, but I'm less than a mile from a Safeway, which is also on my bus line. Of course, a Metro station selling cards is on the other end of the line.)