School Updates

The Kids Ride Free Program Is Changing this Fall

The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program is getting smarter! Mayor Muriel Bowser established and championed KRF to ensure that all students who attend public schools can ride to and from school related activities for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator. Today, we are proud to announce updates to the program based on feedback from parents and students. These updates will make the program easier to use and more accessible.

Students who use Metrorail, Metrobus, and DC Circulator to get to school and school-related activities will need to obtain a new KRF SmarTrip card at a summer distribution event or when the next school year starts. Beginning next school year, students will no longer use their DC One Cards to access public transportation.

  • The new SmarTrip card will continue to provide students with free transportation on Metrobus, Metrorail, and DC Circulator to school and school-related activities.
  • Students will simply be required to tap their new KRF SmarTrip cards on all bus and rail trips. 
  • The new card will be separate from students’ DC One Card and will provide students with easier and immediate access to Metrobus, Metrorail, and DC Circulator.

To ensure students do not experience an interruption in their ability to use the Metro or DC Circulator systems, current KRF activated DC One Cards can be tapped to ride through September 30, 2018. 

For more information, visit kidsridefree.dc.gov and reference letter (English & Spanish) sent to families.

The Washington Post has coverage on the new changes to the program. 

The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program is getting smarter! Mayor Muriel Bowser established and championed KRF to ensure that all students who attend public schools can ride to and from school related activities for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator.