Metro riders would pay less for SmarTrip cards and have an easier time getting them under a plan approved today by a Metro board committee.

The panel agreed to spend nearly $25 million to upgrade fare machines in 86 rail stations over the next four years. A final vote is scheduled for July 26th.

More than 900 fare card machines will accept dollar coins and the new $5 bills by early next year.

The upgrades will also allow 550 machines to dispense plastic and paper-based, disposable SmarTrip cards within a few years. Metro will also more than double the number of machines that accept credit cards.