Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for our community—and for transit across the region.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) officially celebrated the expansion of its Tap. Ride. Go. system to parking facilities, with the launch event held right here at the College Park–University of Maryland station.

I had the opportunity to speak at the event, and it was a proud moment to highlight College Park’s role in advancing innovation and improving the everyday transit experience for our residents, students, and visitors.

A Simpler, Faster Way to Travel

With Tap. Ride. Go., riders can now pay for Metro parking the same way they pay for their ride—by simply tapping a credit card, debit card, smartphone, or other contactless device.

No tickets. No machines. No extra steps.

Metro’s goal is clear: make every part of the journey easier—from parking to riding—through a seamless, contactless experience.

Why College Park?

Metro chose College Park as one of the key locations to highlight this rollout—and that says a lot.

As Randy Clarke emphasized, this initiative is about creating a faster, more flexible system for riders across the region.

And here in College Park, we are proud to be at the forefront of that innovation.

Our city has long been a place where transportation, technology, and community intersect—whether it’s through our partnership with the University of Maryland, our growing transit-oriented development, or our commitment to improving mobility for residents.

A Step Toward the Future

This rollout is part of a broader, phased effort by Metro to modernize its system—upgrading parking equipment, fare technology, and customer experience across the network.

And importantly, this is just the beginning. More stations will continue to come online as the program expands.

What This Means for Our Community

For residents, students, and visitors, this change means:

  • Faster entry and exit from parking facilities
  • Fewer barriers to using transit
  • A more modern, user-friendly experience

In short, it makes choosing Metro easier—and that benefits everyone.

College Park is proud to help lead the way.

When transit becomes easier, our community moves forward together.