Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 19, 2012
Metrobus service changes continue 'better bus' improvement program
Next round of changes takes effect December 30
More late-evening buses along 16th Street NW, the launch of Maryland’s first MetroExtra route, and changes to Columbia Pike MetroExtra limited-stop service are among the improvements that will take effect December 30, as Metro advances its Better Bus initiative, a $5 million investment in service to improve on-time performance and reliability while reducing crowding for customers along routes in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The Better Bus initiative represents the biggest investment in bus service in five years and includes more limited-stop MetroExtra routes and refinements to 11 existing priority corridors. Overall, 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 highlights:
- In response to customer feedback, Metro will provide two additional hours of S9 MetroExtra limited stop service along 16th Street NW. New S9 trips will operate on weekdays in both directions from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Buses will serve stops every 15 minutes to reduce crowding on S2 and S4 buses. Currently, S9 service ends at 7 p.m.
- Customers along New Hampshire Avenue in Montgomery County will benefit from the introduction of Maryland’s first MetroExtra route, the K9, between Northwest Park Apartments and Fort Totten station. Buses will operate every 15–20 minutes during the a.m. and p.m. rush hours, providing additional capacity on this busy bus corridor.
- In Virginia, customers will see stop and route number changes to the limited-stop MetroExtra service along Columbia Pike.
Below is a complete summary of bus changes effective December 30, 2012:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
37 Wisconsin Avenue Limited
39 Pennsylvania Avenue Limited (MetroExtra)
Route 37 and 39 will be changed to run via 13th Street NW rather than 15th Street NW in order to avoid traffic congestion on 15th Street and reduce running time.
60, 64 Fort Totten - Petworth
Selected weekday trip times will be adjusted slightly. There will be no change in the number of trips or the frequency of service.
62 Takoma - Petworth
Selected weekday, Saturday, and Sunday trip times will be adjusted slightly. There will be no change in the number of trips or the frequency of service.
G2 P Street - LeDroit Park
Following completion of street construction on O and P streets, NW, Route G2 will be extended via its previous route between Wisconsin Avenue and 37th and O streets, NW (Georgetown University). Buses will serve stops every 12-13 minutes during the a.m. peak period, every 17 minutes during the p.m. peak period and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods and weekends.
L1 Connecticut Avenue
Route L1 will revert to its previous routing passing 23rd and C streets, NW instead of operating via Virginia Avenue.
M6 Fairfax Village
The terminal stand at Potomac Avenue station will move to the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, east of Potomac Avenue (traffic circle). Westbound buses will follow the regular route to the new terminal stand. Eastbound buses will begin at this terminal stand. Customers at Potomac Avenue station will still be able to board eastbound buses at the existing stop on Potomac Avenue in front of the station. Scheduled trip times will not change.
S2, S4 16th Street
On weekdays, southbound buses leaving Silver Spring from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. will serve stops every 10 to 15 minutes. All S4 trips on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. will start/end at I (Eye) and 13th streets, NW (Franklin Square) instead of 10th and Constitution Ave.
S9 16th Street Limited (MetroExtra)
New S9 trips will operate on weekdays in both directions from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Buses will serve stops every 15 minutes to reduce crowding on S2 and S4 buses.
MARYLAND
B21 Bowie State University
The B21 trip now leaving New Carrollton station at 8:30 a.m. will leave at 8:26 a.m. and arrive at Bowie State University at 8:52 a.m. to provide more time for students to get to class.
B29 Crofton - New Carrollton
All B29 trips will begin and end at the Crofton Country Club Park and Ride lot. The extension on selected trips to and from Crofton Parkway will be discontinued.
C2, C4 Greenbelt - Twinbrook
Late-night westbound C2 trips which are extended over the C4 routing to Randolph Road and Veirs Mill Road will be further extended to Randolph Road and Lauderdale Drive and will go out of passenger service at that location. Sunday C4 service will be extended to operate through the evening and will connect with the last outbound Metrorail trains passing Twinbrook, Wheaton and Prince George’s Plaza stations.
F4 New Carrollton-Silver Spring
Saturday service will be increased to meet customer demand. An earlier short trip from New Carrollton station to Prince George’s Plaza station will be added, and buses will serve stops every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Evening trips will be added after 9:45 p.m. the current last trip. These later buses will serve stops every 60 minutes and will connect with trains at New Carrollton, Prince George’s Plaza and Silver Spring stations. The bus times will correspond with the times of the last trains on Metrorail’s Sunday through Thursday schedule.
F6 New Carrollton - Fort Totten
Travel time will be added to the schedule to reflect current traffic conditions. Also, buses will serve stops every 30 minutes during rush periods and every 60 minutes during non-rush periods.
F8 Prince George’s - Langley
The name of this line will change to Langley Park – Cheverly in order to reflect more clearly where the service operates.
K9 New Hampshire Avenue Limited (MetroExtra)
New MetroExtra limited-stop service will be introduced on New Hampshire Avenue between Northwest Park Apartments and Fort Totten station. Buses will serve stops every 15–20 minutes during the a.m. and p.m. rush periods.
P17, P18, P19 Oxon Hill - Fort Washington
Travel time adjustments will be made to this line in order to reflect current traffic conditions. Please check the new timetable for details.
R3 Greenbelt - Prince George’s Plaza
A new later trip will depart Prince George’s Plaza station for Greenbelt station at 7:10 p.m.
W13, W14 Bock Road
Travel time adjustments will be made to this line in order to reflect current traffic conditions. Please check the new timetable for details.
Z2 Colesville - Ashton
Saturday service, provided by Ride On, will no longer run as of Saturday, January 12, 2013. Service provided by Metrobus on holidays where buses are running a Saturday schedule, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day, will also be discontinued.
VIRGINIA
2A, 2B, 2C, 2G Washington Boulevard
Travel time adjustments will be made to this line in order to reflect current traffic conditions. Please check the new timetable for details.
4B Pershing Drive-Arlington Boulevard
A new Sunday schedule will accommodate increased ridership and traffic congestion along the line. Buses will serve stops every 65-75 minutes, with the last eastbound trip leaving Seven Corners at 9:05 p.m. and the last westbound trip leaving Rosslyn station at 9:45 p.m.
16F Columbia Pike - Federal Triangle
The route number will change to 16X. In addition to the existing stops on Columbia Pike, Route 16X will serve stops at Columbia Pike and Barton Street in both directions. The 16X will not serve stops in downtown D.C. on Independence Avenue at 10th Street, SW in both directions and the southbound stop on 7th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW.
16Y Columbia Pike - Farragut Square
Changes will be implemented at several stops along Columbia Pike to improve travel times and coordinate with Route 16X stops. New stops will be added to provide service to the Lyon Park area and a new development at Pershing Drive and Arlington Boulevard, opposite Fort Myer. Running times on the Columbia Pike segment of the route will be adjusted to reflect the change in designated stop locations. Please check the new timetable for details.
25B Landmark - Ballston
A new weekday schedule will be implemented to accommodate increased ridership and traffic congestion along the line. Please check the new timetable for details.
View upcoming timetables (pdf)
News release issued at 9:29 am, December 20, 2012.