The University of Maryland in Baltimore, is considering integrating its student ID cards with SmarTrip cards, a contactless stored-value smart card used for payment within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Under the proposed program, instead of printing new student IDs on regular plain ID cards, the University would use blank SmarTrip cards, encouraging students to ride the Metro while removing the necessary step of buying a SmarTrip or dealing with paper fare cards.

According to one proponent of the plan, it would strengthen the bonds between the university and the rest of the region and also aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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