Metro News Release
For immediate release: February 14, 2008
Major improvements planned for Metro's most popular bus line
Board approves holding public hearing on 30s line
Metro's most popular and oldest bus line is a step closer to getting a major makeover that the transit agency predicts will mean shorter commutes for thousands of riders.
The Metro Board operations committee today approved holding public hearings next month on plans to overhaul the 30s line. The major east-west route in the District of Columbia primarily runs along Pennsylvania Avenue from Naylor Road and Southern Avenue Metrorail stations to the Foggy Bottom area and along Wisconsin Avenue from Georgetown to Friendship Heights.
More than 20,000 passengers a day ride the line, which consists of six routes the 30, 32, 34, 35, 36 and M6.
"The line connects residential portions to employment portions of the city," said senior Metro planner Jim Hughes. "It's a key transit route that goes back to the horse and buggy. Abraham Lincoln rode portions of it."
Today, buses travel along a14-mile long line that pass through 136 traffic lights. Riders complain the routes are too long, too crowded and there are too many delays.
"If a traffic signal is out, the buses bunch up and everyone is affected," said Hughes. "If there is a vice presidential motorcade, everyone is affected."
The agency and the District's Department of Transportation have been planning ways to improve service along the line for more than a year and included in rider input that was gathered at several public meetings and through a survey.
"We would keep two of the five main east-west routes, " Hughes said. "We would add two express routes, keep one neighborhood route and add two more. There would be more drivers, buses and street supervisors to help keep buses on schedule."
Under the proposal, routes 32, which runs from Southern Avenue to Friendship Heights rail stations, 36, which runs from Naylor Road to Friendship Heights Metrorail stations, and the M6, which runs Potomac Avenue Metrorail station to Fairfax Village, on the D.C.-Prince Georges County, Md., border would stay the same. The 34 and 35, which run between Friendship Heights and Naylor Road Metrorail stations and route 30, which runs from Friendship Heights to Potomac Avenue Metrorail stations would be eliminated. Two new routes would serve specific neighborhoods the M5 would run from Naylor Road to Eastern Market Metrorail stations and route 31 would run from Friendship Heights Metrorail station to Washington Circle.
The new rush hour express routes would be the 37 and 39, which would run between Friendship Heights and Archives Navy-Memorial stations via Massachusetts Avenues and Naylor Road station to Washington Circle, respectively. The buses would service about 10 instead of the current 27 bus stops, and would operate only during rush hours.
Youre going to get to work 20 percent faster, said Hughes of the express service. On a 50-minute trip, you will save 10 minutes.
It costs about $15 million a year to operate the line. Metro officials estimate the service improvements would cost an additional $500,000 annually.
"The changes we are proposing would mean riders would encounter fewer delays, less crowding. They would have more choices and more reliable bus schedules," Metro General Manager John Catoe said.
The full Board will vote on the public hearing request Feb. 28. If the Board approves the proposal in April, service changes would be implemented in early summer.
For more information about the 30 lines, please visit the following links:
Existing and proposed 30s line map
Frequently Asked Questions about the 30s line
30s line study
D.C. bus timetables and maps
News release issued at 2:16 pm, February 14, 2008.