Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 14, 2011
Metro to introduce new Metrobus Route 74 connecting Southwest Washington with Downtown
New service begins September 25; provides link to major attractions
Metro is gearing up to introduce a new Metrobus route that will provide faster, more convenient service between Southwest Waterfront, the National Mall and Downtown.
Service on the new route, called the “74 – Convention Center/Southwest Waterfront,” will begin Sunday, September 25.
“The introduction of direct bus service along this heavily traveled corridor will improve the travel experience for hundreds of commuters and residents each day,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles. “By providing this new service between the Southwest Waterfront, the National Mall and the Convention center, we are connecting people with major attractions and destinations.”
Operating seven days a week, the new Metrobus Route 74 will connect residents in Southwest Washington—including residential areas south of M Street SW—to Waterfront entertainment and shopping, and major attractions and destinations such as the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, the United States Navy Memorial, Verizon Center and Gallery Place-Chinatown and the Washington Convention Center. It will also provide convenient service for customers traveling from Downtown to Waterfront destinations, including Arena Stage and Nationals Park.
The launch of the 74 marks the culmination of months of work with the Southwest community including elected officials, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, stakeholders and residents. Based on community input, Metro planners changed the bus route to operate between Northwest and Southwest along 7th Street, rather than 9th Street.
Serving the 6.9-mile corridor between the Southwest Waterfront and the Washington Convention Center, Route 74 buses will operate every 18 minutes during peak hours and 24 minutes all other times. Buses will operate between K & 6th Street NW and Half & O Street SW, connecting with Metrorail service at Waterfront, L’Enfant Plaza, Archives and Gallery Place stations. During weekday peak periods, 74 line buses will operate extended service to and from Buzzard Point (V & 2nd Street SW).
Metro plans to launch a targeted campaign to build awareness of the new route, including printed brochures and newspapers ads.
In the coming months, Metro and DDOT plan to install Next Bus real-time destination screens at eight bus shelters along the route.
Benefits of Route 74 include:
- Daily service, 20 hours per day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Service throughout the Southwest community to Downtown and the Convention Center
- Easy transfers to other bus routes for travel throughout the District of Columbia and beyond
- Connections to four Metrorail stations
- Improved reliability in areas served by other 70-Line bus services
For more information on Metrobus, please visit www.wmata.com or call 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 3:47 pm, September 14, 2011.