The DC metro system does not offer an "unlimited pass". Each trip costs what it costs, and deducts that amount from whichever card you have. There's two rate

The DC metro system does not offer an "unlimited pass". Each trip costs what it costs, and deducts that amount from whichever card you have. There's two rate schedules, rush-hour (pricier) and non-rush (slightly lower price). I suspect the reason advertised to the DC metro's govt. managers is that the paper fare card (the one that now has a $1 surcharge) is a disposable item. Once run down to zero, or rolled over to another card in a fare machine, the old paper card becomes trash. Therefore I suspect the govt. regulators were told the fee was an "encouragement" to save resources and buy the reusable plastic card vs. the throw away paper card. Now, the fact that they get an extra $1, per trip, out of most all tourists (and locals) who don't notice the surcharge up front (it is advertised, just not that boldly...) was never really discussed at the regulator meetings.