Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 23, 2003

Metrobus service route changes in the District of Columbia begin the week of June 29

Schedule adjustments designed to improve service

Several service changes on Metrobus will be implemented on eight lines in the District of Columbia starting the week of June 29. These changes are in response to customer requests and will eliminate overcrowding on some routes, shorten passenger waits between trips on others, and improve transfer connections between buses and trains. They are listed below.Pennsylvania Avenue Line, Routes 34, 35, and 36. The eastbound route will be changed approaching the Naylor Road Station to avoid traffic. Eastbound buses will follow the regular route to the intersection of Naylor Road and Suitland Parkway (Md.), then continue on Naylor Road, left at the entrance to Naylor Road Station’s Kiss & Ride, and continue into the station. The westbound route will not change.East Capitol Street-Cardozo Line, Routes 96 and 97. Weekday running times will be changed to increase scheduled time in the afternoon due to heavy traffic to improve schedule adherence. The first eastbound trip will be extended from Union Station to start at 14th and U Streets, NW, at 4:49 a.m. on weekdays and at 5:08 a.m. on Saturdays. The last weekday westbound trip will be extended from 14th and U Streets, NW, to Duke Ellington Bridge.Bladensburg Road-Anacostia Line, Route B2. A new weekday trip will leave Mount Rainier at 3:47 p.m. destined to Anacostia station to relieve crowding. The weekday trips scheduled to leave Mount Rainier at 3:50 and 4 p.m. will be changed to leave at 3:54 and 4:02 p.m.Chevy Chase Line, Route E6. All trips after 5 p.m. will be extended from Western and Oregon Avenues, NW, to the Knollwood Retirement Home, following the same route via Oregon Avenue as trips prior to 5 p.m. do now. The frequency of service leaving Friendship Heights after 6 p.m. will be changed from every 19 minutes to every 21 minutes to accommodate additional running time for the extension.Rhode Island Avenue Line, Route G8. The westbound route will restore service to 9th Street, NW, between Rhode Island Avenue and H Street, now that the street has been reopened to traffic. Buses destined to Farragut Square will follow the regular route to the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and 9th Street, NW, then turn left onto 9th Street, right onto H Street to 11th Street and continue on H Street and the regular route. The westbound timepoint at 11th and K Streets, NW, will be changed to 9th and H Streets, NW, with the same scheduled times.Connecticut Avenue Line, Routes L1, L2, L4. New weekday northbound L2 short trips will be scheduled to originate on the east side of Connecticut Avenue, NW, north of Veazey Terrace (at the Van Ness-UDC Metro station), and operate via Connecticut Avenue to Chevy Chase Circle during the afternoon peak period. Trips will be scheduled to leave the Metro station approximately every 10 minutes from 4:28 to 7:24 p.m. Since buses making these short trips will not be affected by heavy downtown traffic, schedule reliability should be improved for customers who transfer from the Red Line at Van Ness-UDC station.A new weekday L2 trip will be scheduled to leave Chevy Chase Circle at 5:55 a.m. going to McPherson Square. Southbound L4 trips scheduled to leave Chevy Chase Circle at 3:33 and 5:28 p.m. and northbound L4 trips scheduled to leave Connecticut Avenue and Q Street, NW, at 8:31 a.m. and at 4:14, 5:33, 5:52, 6:13, and 6:31 p.m. will be discontinued due to low ridership. Passengers who use these trips will have alternative service on Routes L1 and L2. The frequency of service for northbound L1 and L2 trips leaving downtown between 4 and 6 p.m. will be changed from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes on each route due to low ridership. Departure times for other weekday trips will be adjusted slightly.Navy Yard Shuttle, Route N22. The frequency of service between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. will change from every 12-13 minutes to every 18 minutes and the frequency of service between 3 and 6 p.m. will be changed from every nine minutes to every 11 minutes due to low ridership. The trips scheduled to leave Union Station at 5:48 and 6 a.m. will be changed to leave at 5:53 and 6:03 a.m. to coordinate with MARC train arrivals.Deanwood-Alabama Avenue Line, Route W4. Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday schedules will be changed to reflect the current detour route to Anacostia Metro Station, since buses are not permitted to operate on Bolling Air Force Base. Southbound buses follow the regular route to the intersection of Malcolm X Avenue and South Capitol Street, then turn right on South Capitol Street, right on Firth Sterling Avenue, right on Howard Road, and right into the Anacostia Metrorail station. Northbound buses leaving Anacostia station turn left on Howard Road, left on Firth Sterling Avenue, left on South Capitol Street, bear right on the ramp to Malcolm X Avenue, left on Malcolm X Avenue and continue the regular route. Northbound trips will be scheduled to leave Anacostia station from one to three minutes earlier than the existing scheduled times at Bolling.

News release issued on June 23, 2003.