Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Arlington Senior Transportation Programs: Super Senior Taxi, SCAT, STAR, MetroAccess, and When You Need a Caregiver’s Help
Key Takeaways
- Arlington’s Super Senior Taxi gives residents age 70+ a $20 taxi coupon book for $10, up to 20 books per year, purchased through Arlington Transit
- SCAT (Senior Center Adult Transportation) costs $2.50 one-way and runs between your home and Arlington’s six senior centers for residents age 55 and older
- STAR paratransit is ADA-mandated service for residents with disabilities; if you’re already certified for MetroAccess, you qualify for STAR automatically
- MetroAccess covers the full WMATA region for eligible riders, fares are capped at $4.50 per trip regardless of distance
- The ART bus charges $1.10 per ride for seniors 65+ with a free yellow Senior SmarTrip card, half the standard fare
- Public programs don’t cover every situation. When a senior needs door-through-door help, someone to walk them in, wait, and bring them home, a private caregiver fills that gap
According to AAA, seniors outlive their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years. In Arlington, that gap affects roughly 29,000 residents age 65 or older, about 12% of the population. What most families don’t realise is that Arlington has more than one transportation option for older adults, and each program works differently. This guide covers all of them in one place.
Arlington’s Super Senior Taxi: The Program Most Families Don’t Know About
The Super Senior Taxi is one of the most underused senior benefits in Northern Virginia.
Arlington Transit runs the program for residents age 70 and older. You pay $10 for a coupon book worth $20 in taxi credit, a straight 50% subsidy on every ride. You can purchase up to 20 books per year, first-come, first-served.
The coupons work with Red Top Cab and Yellow Cab only. They cover your fare, your companion’s fare, and the driver’s tip. There’s no expiration date. The one restriction: they can’t be used as a STAR paratransit co-pay.
Trip destinations are unrestricted. You can go where you want to go, a doctor’s appointment, a grocery run, a family visit, anywhere.
How to register: Download the application from Arlington Transit and mail it to:
Arlington AAA, DHS, Super Seniors Taxi
2100 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor
Arlington, VA 22204
Once accepted, you receive a Welcome Package with order forms. To buy coupon books after registration, call 703-228-RIDE (7433), order online at CommuterDirect.com, mail in a check or credit card, or visit any Commuter Store in person. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available with advance reservation.
Full program details at: Arlingtontransit.com, Super Senior Taxi
SCAT: $2.50 Rides to Arlington’s Senior Centers
SCAT stands for Senior Center Adult Transportation, not to be confused with the ART fixed-route bus or STAR paratransit. It’s a separate, door-to-door service with a narrower purpose.
SCAT is open to Arlington residents age 55 and older. The fare is $2.50 one-way, or $5.00 roundtrip. Discount coupon books are also available ($20 in ride credit for $18).
The catch: SCAT only runs between your home and Arlington’s six senior centers:
- Arlington Mill Senior Center
- Lee Senior Center
- Langston-Brown Senior Center
- Madison Senior Center
- Culpepper Garden Senior Center
- Aurora Hills Senior Center
If you need a ride to a medical appointment, a store, or anywhere else, SCAT isn’t the right program. But for seniors who want to get to senior activities in Arlington regularly, fitness classes, social programs, meals, SCAT is the lowest-cost option available.
How to book: Call 703-228-1900 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reserve at least one day in advance by 4:30 p.m. You can book up to 7 days ahead. Standing reservations are available for regular trips.
Full details at: Arlingtontransit.com, SCAT
STAR Paratransit: ADA Service for Arlington Residents with Disabilities
STAR, Specialized Transportation for Arlington Residents, is the ADA-mandated paratransit program managed by Arlington Transit. It’s not age-based. It’s disability-based.
To qualify, you must have a physical or mental disability (temporary or permanent) that prevents you from using ART’s fixed-route buses. A healthcare professional must certify your eligibility. If you’re already certified as MetroAccess-eligible through WMATA, you qualify for STAR automatically.
STAR fares vary by zone:
| Zone | Area | Fare |
| Zone 1 | Within Arlington | $4.50 |
| Zone 2 | DC, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax (inside Beltway) | $6.20 |
| Zone 3 | Fairfax (outside Beltway), Montgomery, Prince George’s | $10.70 |
STAR runs 5:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. There’s no restriction on trip purpose, medical, social, recreational, all are eligible.
How to apply or book: Call the STAR Call Center at 703-228-1900. Press 1 for reservations and cancellations; press 2 for new applications. Call Center hours are Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Full details at: Arlingtontransit.com, STAR
MetroAccess: WMATA’s Regional Paratransit Program
MetroAccess is WMATA’s ADA paratransit service, the regional version of what STAR provides locally in Arlington.
Eligibility works the same way as STAR: you need a documented disability that prevents using fixed-route Metrobus or Metrorail for some or all trips. The application process involves a healthcare certification and an in-person functional assessment at WMATA’s Transit Accessibility Center in Washington, DC. You receive written notification within 7–10 business days after your assessment.
The fare structure is different from STAR. MetroAccess charges twice the fastest comparable fixed-route fare, capped at $4.50 per trip. That means a rider going from Ballston to Georgetown pays $4.50, not the $9+ an Uber might cost for the same trip.
The key distinction between STAR and MetroAccess:
- STAR serves trips that begin or end in Arlington, at lower Zone 1 fares ($4.50)
- MetroAccess covers the entire WMATA region, DC, Maryland, and all participating Virginia jurisdictions
For an Arlington resident making local trips, STAR is typically the better option. For trips to DC or Maryland, MetroAccess covers where STAR stops.
Apply online at WMATA.com, by email to eligibility@wmata.com, or in person at the Transit Accessibility Center.
Full details at: Wmata.com, MetroAccess
ART Bus: $1.10 Rides for Seniors 65 and Older
Arlington Transit (ART) is the local fixed-route bus network. For seniors age 65 and older, the fare drops to $1.10 per ride, half the standard $2.25.
To get the discount, you need a yellow Senior SmarTrip card, which is free. Pick one up at:
- Metro Center station sales office (12th & F Streets entrance, Washington DC)
- Any Commuter Store in the region
Tap it on the fare box and the discount applies automatically, no manual verification needed. The same card works on Metrobus and Metrorail.
ART routes cover Arlington’s residential neighbourhoods, connecting to Rosslyn, Ballston, Crystal City, Pentagon City, and key points throughout the service area. Many routes serve senior-heavy areas like Westover, Lyon Village, and North Arlington.
Full details at: Arlingtontransit.com, Senior Citizens
How All Five Programs Compare
| Program | Who Qualifies | Cost | Where You Can Go |
| Super Senior Taxi | Age 70+, Arlington resident | $10 for $20 in credit | Anywhere (Red Top or Yellow Cab) |
| SCAT | Age 55+, Arlington resident | $2.50 one-way | Arlington senior centers only |
| STAR | ADA disability certification | $4.50–$10.70 by zone | Anywhere in service area |
| MetroAccess | ADA disability certification | Up to $4.50 per trip | Full WMATA region |
| ART Bus | Age 65+, yellow SmarTrip card | $1.10 per ride | ART fixed routes |
When Public Transit Still Isn’t Enough
These programs collectively provide real options. But there are situations none of them cover well.
- Door-through-door versus door-to-door. Most transit programs are curb-to-curb. The driver picks you up at the curb and drops you at the curb. For a senior with mild dementia or significant mobility limitations, getting from the curb to the waiting room, and back out, may not be something they can do alone.
- Late-day or weekend appointments. SCAT runs weekdays only. STAR’s call centre closes early. Some medical appointments happen outside those windows.
- Trips outside the supported programs. A Super Senior Taxi coupon works for the ride. It doesn’t cover the errand itself, picking up a prescription, navigating a grocery store, waiting during a two-hour cardiology appointment.
- Cognitive barriers. Fixed-route transit like ART requires a senior to navigate stops, transfers, and schedules. For someone with early memory loss, that’s no longer safe.
These gaps are exactly why in-home caregiver transportation in Arlington exists as a private service alongside public programs. The two aren’t in competition, they serve different situations.
How Caregiver-Assisted Transportation Works
Our caregivers in Arlington provide transportation as part of a non-medical in-home care plan. The difference from a taxi or rideshare isn’t just the vehicle, it’s what happens during the trip.
A caregiver drives the client to their appointment, walks them in, stays with them if needed, and drives them home. For a doctor’s visit, that might mean helping communicate symptoms, taking notes, or simply being there so the senior doesn’t feel alone. For a pharmacy pickup or grocery run, it connects directly to our errand services in Arlington, the caregiver helps carry bags, checks the list, and handles the walking the senior can no longer do comfortably.
Scheduling is flexible, evenings, weekends, and same-week bookings are available depending on the care plan. Transportation can be booked as a standalone visit or as part of a broader care routine.
This is particularly useful for families in Alexandria, McLean, and surrounding Northern Virginia areas. Seniors in McLean and senior programs in Old Town Alexandria who take advantage of local events and appointments often need consistent transport support beyond what fixed programs provide.
If you’re exploring destinations to keep an active senior engaged, trails, parks, community programs, senior-friendly parks in Vienna are within our service area and easy to reach with caregiver transport. See our seniors in McLean guide for more on what’s available across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What transportation programs are available for seniors in Arlington?
A: Arlington offers five main programs: the Super Senior Taxi (age 70+, $10 for $20 in taxi credit), SCAT (age 55+, $2.50 rides to senior centers), STAR paratransit (ADA disability eligibility, $4.50 zone fares), MetroAccess (WMATA region-wide ADA paratransit, capped at $4.50), and the ART bus ($1.10 per ride with a free yellow Senior SmarTrip card for ages 65+). Each program has different eligibility rules and serves different trip types.
Q: How do I sign up for the Super Senior Taxi program in Arlington?
A: Download the application from Arlington Transit’s website and mail it to the Arlington Area Agency on Aging at 2100 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22204. Once approved, you receive a Welcome Package and can order coupon books by calling 703-228-RIDE (7433), online at CommuterDirect.com, or in person at any Commuter Store. The program is open to Arlington residents age 70 and older.
Q: What is the difference between SCAT, STAR, and MetroAccess?
A: SCAT is for seniors 55+ going to Arlington’s six senior centers only, it’s age-based and destination-limited. STAR is ADA paratransit for Arlington residents with disabilities, covering any trip purpose, anywhere in its service area. MetroAccess is WMATA’s version of the same ADA paratransit service, but it covers the full DC-Maryland-Virginia region rather than just Arlington. STAR eligibility flows automatically from MetroAccess certification.
Q: Does Caring Senior Service provide transportation in Arlington?
A: Yes. We provide in-home care services in Arlington that include caregiver-assisted transportation as part of a non-medical care plan. A caregiver accompanies the client door-through-door, not just curb-to-curb, which makes a meaningful difference for seniors with mobility limitations or cognitive changes. Call us at (571) 202-7683 to discuss what that looks like for your family.
If your parent needs more than a ride, they need someone with them, call Caring Senior Service of Arlington at (571) 202-7683. We serve Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Falls Church, Vienna, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities. A free 43-point home safety assessment is included with every new care plan.
Sources
- AAA, Senior Driver Safety and Mobility
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Arlington County, Virginia
- Arlington Transit, Super Senior Taxi Program
- Arlington Transit, Senior Center Adult Transportation (SCAT)
- Arlington Transit, STAR Paratransit
- WMATA, MetroAccess Paratransit Service
- WMATA, MetroAccess Eligibility
- Arlington Transit, How to Ride for Senior Citizens