Washington Transportation - Washington is a very easy city to get around in. It has one of the cleanest, safest and fastest public transportation systems in the United States. The jewel of the public transit system is the Metro. The Metro consists of five different lines (red, orange, yellow, blue and green) which innervate parts of Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. One notable exception is Georgetown, which currently does not have a Metro stop.

Fares on the Metro vary based on distance travelled and what time of day you are travelling. Fares are most expensive during rush hour. Each rider needs to obtain a fare card and put some money on it. Fare cards can be obtained at any Metro Station with cash or credit card. Metro stations are identified by the large “M” atop a rectangular post outside of the station. The fare card has to be shown both when entering a station as well as when you are leaving the station. More information on the Metro can be found at www.wmata.com.

In addition, Washington also offers a public bus system. Bus schedules vary; you can find more information on the bus schedules at any Metro station. If you are going to switch from the train to the bus there are bus transfer tickets available in every Metro station. More information can be found at www.wmata.com

Washington is also accessible by AMTRAK (through Union Station) and the MARC (a local commuter )rail system. More information can be found at www.amtrak.com and www.mtamaryland.com

There are a number of taxis that are also available. Unlike most other cities, Washington Taxis do not have a meter, rather they charge fares based on a zone system within Washington and use a flat fee based on mileage for travel to Virginia and Maryland.