Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 17, 2012
Metrobus service changes continue 'better bus' program
Sept. 30 service changes to improve bus service
A second round of Metrobus improvements will take effect Sept. 30 to provide customers with better bus service, as part of Metro’s $5 million investment to improve bus service this year. The changes aim to improve on-time performance and reliability while reducing crowding for customers along several routes in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The better bus initiative represents the biggest investment in bus service in five years and will include more limited-stop MetroExtra routes and refinements to 11 existing priority corridors. More than 150,000 customers—roughly one third of all bus customers—will benefit from more frequent service, additional capacity, or expanded hours of operation on selected routes.
Among the service enhancements that take effect with the Sept. 30 schedule change are:
- Conversion of the 16F and 16Y routes on Columbia Pike to limited-stop MetroExtra service.
- Utilization of the limited-stop blue MetroExtra buses on the 28X route on Leesburg Pike.
- Schedule adjustments on the MetroExtra J4 College Park-Bethesda route, the Y5, Y7, Y8, and Y9 routes on Georgia Avenue, Maryland, and on REX, Richmond Highway Express line.
To inform customers of these bus service enhancements and to encourage ridership, Metro has launched a “better bus” public awareness campaign, including in-system posters, signage and on-board announcements, newspaper ads, take-one flyers, email alerts and web pages.
Later in the fiscal year, Metro will advance several more projects along priority corridor networks, including restructuring routes A4 and A5, introducing new limited stop service on route A9 and extending it to McPherson Square, and adding new, rush hour MetroExtra service on New Hampshire Avenue, new Saturday service on MetroExtra 79 along Georgia Ave NW, and new, midday service on Metrobus route Q9 on Veirs Mill Road.
Summary of bus changes effective Sept. 30:
District of Columbia
D.C. - Dulles Airport Line, Route 5A
The stop at the Tysons-Westpark Transit Station will be discontinued at all times. Scheduled trip times will not change.
Mount Pleasant Line, Routes 42, 43
The 43 southbound terminal stand will be relocated to the 42 stand on the south side of Lamont Street NW, west of Mount Pleasant Street. Scheduled trip times will not change.
U Street - Garfield Line, Routes 90, 92, 93
The following northbound trips leaving Congress Heights Station will be shortened to end at 8th & M Streets SE:
- Weekday leaving at 1:34, 1:50, 2:34, and 3:04 a.m.
- Saturday leaving at 1:31, 1:58, 2:09, 2:32, 2:49, and 3:12 a.m.
- Sunday leaving at 1:53, 2:14, 2:38, and 3:02 a.m.
The following weekday southbound trips will be shortened as follows:
- Leaving U and 13th Streets NW at 4:06 a.m. will leave 8th and L Streets SE at 4:35 a.m.
- Leaving Duke Ellington Bridge at 4:23 a.m. will leave U and 13th Streets NW at 4:30 a.m.
The following Saturday southbound trips will be shortened as follows:
- Leaving U and 13th Streets NW at 4:46 a.m. will leave 8th and L Streets SE at 5:07 a.m.
- Leaving Duke Ellington Bridge at 4:41 a.m. will leave U and 13th Streets NW at 4:47 a.m.
East Capitol Street - Cardozo Line, Route 96
Benning Road Line, Route X3
- Routes 96 and X3 will be extended from McLean Gardens to Tenleytown-AU station due to closure of Newark Street NW between Wisconsin and Idaho avenues for construction. Scheduled trip times will be adjusted slightly.
- Westbound buses will follow regular route to the intersection of Wisconsin and Idaho Avenues NW, then continue Wisconsin Avenue, right Tenley Circle, continue Nebraska Avenue (east), left Fort Drive and continue to the terminal stand on the east side of Fort Drive, north of Albemarle Street.
- Eastbound buses will begin at the terminal stand on the east side of Fort Drive NW, north of Albemarle Street, then continue Fort Drive, left Brandywine Street, left Wisconsin Avenue to the intersection with Newark Street, and continue regular route.
Glover Park - Federal Triangle Line, Route D1
An additional trip will be scheduled in the morning to reduce crowding and other trip times will be adjusted slightly. D1 trips will leave Glover Park at 7:10, 7:26, 7:38, 7:48, 7:58, 8:06, 8:13, 8:20, 8:27, 8:37, 8:50, and 9:05 a.m.
Maryland
Bowie State University Line, Route B21
A new B21 trip will depart New Carrollton station for Bowie State University at 8:56 a.m. due to overcrowding on the existing 9:25 a.m. trip.
Central Avenue Line, Route C21
In order to relieve overcrowding, eastbound C21 service will leave Addison Road Station at 20-minute intervals instead of at 30-minute intervals between 6:55 a.m. and 8:55 a.m.
Pointer Ridge Line, Route C28
The trip leaving New Carrollton station at 7:44 a.m. for Pointer Ridge will be changed to leave at 7:39 a.m. The trip leaving Pointer Ridge at 8:20 a.m. for New Carrollton station will be changed to leave at 8:15 a.m.
Oxon Hill - Suitland Line, Route D12
D12 trips operating in both directions (to Suitland and Southern Avenue stations) will loop through Marlow Heights Shopping Center using the same clockwise loop now used only by trips operating to Southern Avenue station. From the intersection of St. Barnabas Road and 28th Avenue, all buses will operate via 28th Avenue and Keith Street, enter the shopping center from Keith Street, serve the roadway in front of the stores, then leave the shopping center via the 28th Avenue exit and return to St. Barnabas Road.
College Park – Bethesda Limited Line, Route J4
Travel time will be added to the schedule to reflect current traffic conditions. The number and frequency of trips will not change. Also, J4 will serve a new pair of stops on Wayne Avenue east of Sligo Creek Park, at Manchester Place westbound and at Manchester Road eastbound. These are existing Ride On stops with shelters.
I-270 Express Line, Routes J7, J9
Travel time will be added to the schedule to reflect current traffic conditions. The number and frequency of trips will not change.
Indian Head Express Line, Route W19
A new schedule will go into effect on this line. The times of first and last trips will remain the same or minimally changed. Travel time will be added to reflect current traffic conditions. There will be two fewer northbound trips in the morning rush and two fewer southbound trips in the evening rush due to ridership declines. Early morning inbound trips and late evening outbound trips will operate at 30 minute intervals, but the majority of trips will operate at intervals of 15-20 minutes. All trips will run the full length of the route between the Town of Indian Head and Southern Avenue Station. All inbound morning and outbound evening trips will serve both the Accokeek Village and Bryans Road Park & Ride lots. The express fare will continue to be charged.
Georgia Avenue - Maryland Line, Routes Y5, Y7, Y8, Y9
Travel time will be added to the weekday schedule to reflect current traffic conditions, particularly between Wheaton station and Montgomery General Hospital, now known as Medstar Montgomery Medical Center. The number and frequency of trips will not change.
College Park-White Flint Line, Route C8
Ride On Route 10
Metrobus and Ride On have worked together to coordinate schedules along Randolph Rd. between New Hampshire Ave. and Parklawn Dr., Monday through Saturday. Together Ride On Route 10 and Metrobus C8 will provide trips approximately every 15 minutes. The C8 does not operate on Sundays, but Ride On Route 10 operates every 30 minutes on Sundays.
Virginia
Wilson Boulevard Line, Route 1A
A new weekday westbound trip will be added leaving Seven Corners Transit Center at 5:51 a.m. to Vienna station.
Washington Boulevard Line, Routes 2B,G
The routing at Vienna station will be changed due to the availability of Vaden Drive between Lee Highway and Saintsbury Drive (Vienna station access road), and to eliminate backtracking via the intersection of Lee Highway and Nutley Street. Westbound trips will operate the current route to the Vienna station south side bus terminal, then continue west on Saintsbury Drive, left Vaden Drive, right Lee Highway and continue present routes to Fair Oaks Mall. Eastbound trips will operate the current route to Lee Highway and Vaden Drive, then left Vaden Drive, right Saintsbury Drive to Vienna station terminal, then continue east on Saintsbury Drive, right Nutley Street, left Lee Highway and continue present route to Ballston-MU station. This change discontinues 2B,G service and one westbound stop on Lee Highway between Nutley Street and Vaden Drive. Weekday and Saturday trip times between Vienna station and Fair Oaks Mall will be adjusted as a result of the new routing.
Huntington-Pentagon Line, Route 9E
Weekday running times between Pentagon and Rosslyn stations will be adjusted to reflect current traffic conditions.
Hunting Point-Pentagon Line, Route 10E
Weekday running times between Pentagon and Rosslyn stations will be adjusted to reflect current traffic conditions.
Chain Bridge Road Line, Route 15L
The eastbound morning time point on Lee Highway at Kirkwood Road will be changed to Lee Highway and Quincy Street.
Columbia Pike Line, Routes 16A,B,D,J
Weekday eastbound trip times passing Columbia Pike and Four Mile Run Drive between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. will be adjusted by one to three minutes to provide a common headway of every two to three minutes with other Route 16 service along Columbia Pike.
Columbia Pike-Federal Triangle Line, Route 16F
Service will be redesignated as MetroExtra and converted to a headway-based operation in order to improve on-time performance and reliability.
Columbia Heights West-Pentagon City Line, Routes 16G,H
Weekday eastbound trip times passing Columbia Pike and Four Mile Run Drive between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. will be adjusted by one to three minutes to provide a common headway of every two to three minutes with other Route 16 service along Columbia Pike.
Columbia Pike-Farragut Square Line, Route 16Y
Service will be redesignated as MetroExtra and converted to a headway-based operation in order to improve on-time performance and reliability. Morning service will be improved to operate as frequently as every six minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with a new earlier trip leaving Barcroft at 5:55 a.m. Evening service will operate as frequently as every 7½ minutes between 5 p.m. and 6:10 p.m., with new earlier and later trips leaving McPherson Square at 3:30 p.m. and 7:20 p.m.
Leesburg Pike Limited Line, Route 28X
MetroExtra blue buses will be assigned to this line. Previously, the route used regular red Metrobuses.
Richmond Highway Express (REX)
New weekday running times between Huntington Station and Fort Belvoir will be implemented reflecting current traffic conditions. Consult the new schedule for revised trip times.
For more information on Metrobus, call (202) 637-7000 or visit wmata.com. Metrobus schedules can be found online at http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/.
News release issued at 12:39 pm, September 17, 2012.