The Metrobus system was officially overhauled and replaced with the Better Bus system, which the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority promises will improve wait times and simplify route names.
The redesign comes after more than 50 years of the Metrobus system, which has “never been overhauled” according to Jordan Pascale, WMATA media relations manager.
“A lot has changed in that time, including where people live and where they want to go,” Pascale wrote in a statement to The Eagle. “Metro planners started the project in 2022 with the goal of making the bus system easier to use, faster, and more reliable.”
Planning the redesign took WMATA three years — most of which was focused on gathering community input through public hearings, pop-up events and webinars.
According to the WMATA engagement summary, there were over 13,500 comments received on the plan and 50 in-person events hosted. Events included bus ride-alongs and discovery days — a combination of workshops and public hearings.
The finalized plan detailed the redesigning of all current bus names and routes and the removal of about 500 Metrobus stops — most of which were removed for being too close to another stop, low ridership or a lack of safe pedestrian access.
Stops marked to be removed will go out of service by June 29. A full list of removed stops can be found on the WMATA bus stop consolidation website.
According to Pascale, many of the former route names were adopted from old D.C. streetcar routes, which still exist today in limited form. The new naming system aims to simplify the route identification and make navigating the bus system easier for all passengers, especially new riders.
Routes will now begin with a letter that indicates the area served by the route:
- A - Arlington/Alexandria
- C or D - D.C. (C for crosstown, D for downtown)
- F - Fairfax City, Fairfax County and Falls Church
- M - Montgomery County
- P - Prince George's County
- Express Routes will be indicated by an "X" at the end of their name.
The nine routes that serve the American University and surrounding community — 31, 33, 96, N2, N4, N6, H2, H4 and M4 — will expand to 12 different routes — D80, D82, C51, C57, D24, D90, D96, C61, C61, C81, C83 and C85.
The C81 route, which replaces the M4, will transition from a five-day-a-week limited frequency service and limited destinations to a seven-day, 20-minute frequent service route.
The D96, which along with the D90, replaces the N2, N4 and N6 routes, provides access north to Bethesda and south to Glover Park, Dupont Circle and on weekdays, Foggy Bottom. These routes will run every 20 to 30 minutes on weekdays.
The C61 route combines the H2 and H4 into a “consistent and streamlined crosstown” from Tenleytown to Brookland with service every 12 minutes daily and then every 20 minutes after 9 p.m., according to Pascale.
On April 10, WMATA announced the approval of a $4.957 billion capital and operating budget, which will help improve service without raising fares for riders. Starting on June 22, the Metro will open one hour earlier — at 6 a.m. — on Saturdays and Sundays and will close one hour later — at 2 a.m.
The Red Line, the Metro line that serves AU, will increase service to run at least every four minutes, instead of five, during the busiest parts of weekday rush hours.
More information about altered routes can be found in the WMATA route profiles.
This article was edited by Abigail Hatting and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Sabine Kanter-Huchting and Hannah Langenfeld.
