STAR Paratransit
STAR – Specialized Transit for Arlington Residents – provides fully accessible shared paratransit rides for people who have difficulty riding ART’s regular fixed-route bus service due to a temporary or permanent disability.
Book your trip now:
Call 703-228-1900
Monday–Friday, 7am–7pm
Saturday, 8am–5pm
Use the STAR App
Who Can Use STAR?
Arlington County residents with a disability as defined by the ADA that prevents them from traveling to or riding fixed-route transportation like ART, Metrobus and Metrorail can use STAR.
If you are currently certified eligible for MetroAccess, you are automatically certified for STAR as well. Please call the STAR Call Center at 703-228-1900 to make sure we have you in our database.
If you do not yet have a MetroAccess Photo ID, you must complete an application and have it certified by a health care professional. Get your application by:
- Emailing eligibility@wmata.com
- Writing to or visiting the Metro Transit Accessibility Center at 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Downloading it from wmata.com
Where Can I Ride STAR?
STAR rides are provided on a curb-to-curb basis. Drivers park in front of the address and assist riders into and out of the vehicle.
You can ride for any trip purpose you want, anywhere that public transit is available. All pickup and destination addresses must be within 3/4 mile of a transit route, and all daily trip plans on STAR must begin or end in Arlington.
If you need a ride that STAR cannot accommodate, please call MetroAccess at 301-562-5360.
When Can I Ride STAR?
STAR rides are available 5:30am–midnight, seven days a week. Be sure to schedule your trips in advance, as same-day service is generally not available.
The STAR Office and Call Center are closed on the following federal holidays. Standing order rides are not provided on these days – so call in advance to request a trip for a holiday or day after a holiday:
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Thanksgiving Friday
- Christmas Day
Service may also be affected by severe weather that causes hazardous road conditions.
How Much Does STAR Cost?
STAR fares are based on a zone system, with different prices depending on where you go:
Zone 1: $4.50
Trips inside Arlington
Zone 2: $6.20
Trips between Arlington and DC, Alexandria, Falls Church or Fairfax County inside the Beltway, as well as Inova Fairfax Hospital/Woodburn Mental Health campus at 3300 Gallows Road
Zone 3: $10.70
Trips between Arlington and Fairfax County outside the Beltway, Montgomery County or Prince George's County
Have your MetroAccess Photo ID and exact fare in cash or STAR fare coupons ready, then pay the driver before the trip departs. Drivers are not required to carry change or make change.
Want to learn more about STAR? Download the complete STAR Rider Guide now:
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Passengers with Disabilities
Arlington County offers the following programs to help persons with disabilities and senior citizens get around:
Reach A Ride
Reach A Ride is an online search engine showing the multitude of transportation options for persons with disabilities, older adults, persons with limited English proficiency and low-income commuters. Use Reach a Ride’s searchable database – or their toll-free number – to locate a transportation provider in your area.
The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc. (ECNV) Travel Training
The ECNV Travel Training program is for persons with disabilities and/or older adults who want to learn to travel safely and independently using public transportation in the Washington Metropolitan Area
SeniorNavigator and disAbilityNavigator
For information on resources of interest to older adults and to persons with disabilities, please consult SeniorNavigator® and disAbilityNavigator.