Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 12, 2010

More than 600 Metrobuses operating as of 9 a.m. Friday

Majority of routes are in service, with some detours possible

More than 600 Metrobuses on more than 300 bus routes across the region are operating as of 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, as road conditions improve throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

“We are pleased to report that the majority of Metrobus routes are returning to normal operations, and we will continue to work throughout the day to open the remaining bus lines as road conditions improve,” said Christian T. Kent, Metro’s Acting Assistant General Manager of Bus Services.

Customers should take advantage of the Next Bus prediction technology to get an idea of when the next bus will be arriving by logging onto Metro’s Web site or calling 202-637-7000 and saying, “Next Bus.”

Customers also should keep in mind that some buses are operating on snow emergency routes only, while other buses are operating on portions of their normal routes. Metrobus routes are subject to detours based on road conditions. In addition, large piles of snow make it difficult for bus operators to make turns, and many bus stops remain buried in snow. Metro officials remind customers to use extreme caution when boarding and exiting a bus.

While the majority of Metrobus routes are operating, there are still a limited number of routes that Metro is unable to operate because of road conditions.

Metrobus routes that remain out of service as of 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, are as follows:

District of Columbia
62 and 63 (Takoma to Petworth)
D1 (Glover Park to Federal Triangle)
N4 (Massachusetts Ave)
N8 (Van Ness-Wesley Heights Loop)
U4 (Sheriff Road to River Terrace)
U5 and U6 (Mayfair to Marshall Heights)
U8 (Capitol Heights to Benning Heights)

Maryland
87 (Laurel Express)
89 (Laurel Line)
B29 (Crofton-New Carrollton Line)
D12, D13 (Oxon Hill to Suitland)
F6 (Prince George’s Plaza to Silver Spring)
F8 (Prince George’s Plaza to Langley Park)
F12 (Ardwick Industrial Park Shuttle)
F13 (Cheverly-Washington Business Park Line)
F14 (Sheriff Road-Capitol Heights Line)
T16, T17 (Greenbelt Line)

Bus officials continue to stay in touch with the local departments of transportation to let officials in the local jurisdictions know where some of the biggest challenges exist for providing bus service in hopes that those areas can be cleared of snow and treated for icy conditions to allow for safe bus passage.

Local jurisdictions are responsible for clearing bus stops. Local residents can help their neighbors by shoveling the bus stops along the sidewalks near their homes so that people are not standing in the icy streets while traffic is passing.

News release issued at 9:13 am, February 12, 2010.