Metrobus service changes effective December 30 to optimize performance, extend cash-free pilot
Beginning Sunday, December 30, Metro will implement changes on 29 Metrobus routes, including additional service between East Falls Church and West Falls Church in Virginia, schedule improvements on the B30 serving BWI Marshall Airport and an extension of the cash-free pilot on Route 79 MetroExtra between Maryland and the District of Columbia.
The changes are expected to improve reliability and service under the plan to "Keep Metro Safe, Affordable and Reliable" and comply with the three percent subsidy cap on operational expenses.
Among the highlights of service changes effective December 30:
- Route 3T Pimmit Hills Line will expand service during weekday rush hour to operate between West Falls Church and East Falls Church Metrorail stations. The additional service is funded by the I-66 Commuter Choice Program.
- Route B30 Greenbelt-BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express trip times will be adjusted to reflect actual travel time and improve on-time performance.
- Route 79 MetroExtra Georgia Avenue Limited will remain cash-free through June 2019. The pilot program is evaluating whether going cash-free will provide faster, better service by allowing customers to board more quickly and improve travel times. A decision on whether to permanently adopt cash-free boarding is expected in 2019.
Other changes include schedule adjustments, bus stop relocations, and bus bay reassignment at the Pentagon Transit Center. Below is a complete summary of bus changes effective December 30. Visit wmata.com/bus to view new route and schedule information.
Routes Affected
- DC: 31, 32, 36, 39, 52, 60, 64, B2, E6, N2, N4, N6, W2, W3, W4
- MD: B30, C11
- VA: 1B, 3T, 8S, 8W, 8Z, 10B, 16A, 16C, 16L,17G, 17H, 17K, 17L, 17M, 18G, 18H, 18J, 18P, 21A, 21D, 23A, 23B
Metro Initiatives
79 MetroExtra Georgia Avenue Limited
Route79 MetroExtra Cash-free Pilot will be extended until June 2019. Permanent adoption will be decided in 2019.
R1, R2 Riggs Road / F8 Langley Park - Cheverly
Learn about the Riggs Road Line (routes R1, R2 including Route F8) service proposals at wmata.com/bus
Service Changes
1B Wilson Blvd-Vienna
Trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance.
3T Pimmit Hills
Augmented service on Route 3T, funded by the I-66 Commuter Choice Program, will allow expanded rush hour service between West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations via W Broad St and North Washington St.
8S, 8W, 8Z Foxchase-Seminary Valley
These routes will no longer operate on the following Federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin L. King Day, and Presidents' Day.
10B Hunting Point-Ballston
Due to the deterioration of the West Glebe Road bridge, service will be rerouted via South Glebe Road and I-395 to/and from Shirlington and will no longer serve Parkfairfax.
16A, 16C Columbia Pike
To ensure customers are able to connect to the first Yellow Line train at Pentagon Station, the 4:37 a.m. eastbound Route 16A trip, departing Patriot and Americana drives in Annandale, will now leave at 4:27 a.m. Additionally, the 4:48 a.m. eastbound Route 16C trip, leaving Glen Carlyn and Vista drives in Culmore, will now leave at 4:53 a.m.
16L Annandale-Skyline City-Pentagon
This route will no longer operate on the following Federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin L. King Day, and Presidents' Day.
17G, 17H, 17K, 17L Kings Park Express
Pentagon Transit Center Bus Bay Relocation:
Current location: Bus Bay L6
New Location: Bus Bay L5
17M Kings Park-North Springfield
Pentagon Transit Center Bus Bay Relocation:
Current location: Bus Bay L5
New Location: Bus Bay L4
The 6:45 p.m. southbound trip from the Pentagon Transit Center will now leave at 6:50 p.m.
18G, 18H, 18J Orange Hunt
Pentagon Transit Center Bus Bay Relocation:
Current location: Bus Bay U1 (upper level)
New Location: Bus Bay L3 (lower level)
18P Burke Centre
Pentagon Transit Center Bus Bay Relocation:
Current location: Bus Bay U1 (upper level)
New Location: Bus Bay L3 (lower level)
21A, 21D Landmark-Bren Mar Park-Pentagon
This route will no longer operate on the following Federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin L. King Day, and Presidents' Day.
23A, 23B McLean-Crystal City
Due to the deterioration of the West Glebe Road bridge, service will be rerouted via Mount Vernon Avenue, Russell Road, and West Glebe Road to and from Parkfairfax. Service will no longer operate via South Glebe Road.
31 Wisconsin Avenue
The southbound destination sign will be changed to "Potomac Park" to accurately reflect the destination.
32, 36 Pennsylvania Avenue
The westbound destination sign will be changed to "Potomac Park" to accurately reflect the destination.
39 MetroExtra Pennsylvania Avenue Limited
The westbound destination sign will be changed to "Potomac Park" to accurately reflect the destination.
52 14th Street
The long-term detour near L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail Station will become the official routing. Buses traveling towards L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail Station will turn right on E Street SW, left on 6th Street SW, and left on D Street SW, ending service at bus stop ID# 1003599 on D St. between 6th & 7th Sts. SW.
60, 64 Fort Totten-Petworth
Trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance.
B2 Bladensburg Road-Anacostia
Trips departing from Bladensburg Rd and New York Ave at 3:40 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and at 2:40 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. on Wednesdays will be eliminated due to the closure of the Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School.
B30 Greenbelt-BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express
Trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance.
C11 Clinton
Riders traveling southbound will be able to exit the bus at the two bus stops on Old Branch Avenue at Arbutus Lane (stop ID #300251) and at Coventry Way (stop ID #3002628.
D1 Glover Park-Franklin Square
This route will no longer operate on the following Federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin L. King Day, and Presidents' Day.
D5 MacArthur Blvd.-Georgetown
This route will no longer operate on the following Federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Martin L. King Day, and Presidents' Day.
E6 Chevy Chase
Following the completion of the DC Water Sewer Rehabilitation Project on Oregon Avenue NW, Route E6 buses have resumed regular service along Oregon Ave NW between Chestnut Street and Tennyson Street. Scheduled trip times remain the same.
N2, N4, N6 Massachusetts Avenue
Trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance.
W2, W3 United Medical Center-Anacostia
The timetable will be adjusted to better reflect the times buses serve stops in the vicinity of Naylor & Good Hope roads, SE.
W4 Deanwood-Alabama Avenue
A new trip towards Deanwood Metrorail Station will depart Malcolm X & Martin Luther King Jr. avenues at 4:11 p.m. during the academic school year.