Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 6, 2010
Modified holiday Metrobus service starts on Columbus Day
Route adjustments aligns service with customer demand
On Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 11, Metro will begin a new Metrobus service holiday schedule that better aligns service with demand by reducing or eliminating underused services on holidays. In Maryland and Virginia, 27 routes that currently operate on weekdays will not be operating and many other routes will be operating at a reduced frequency. Metro operates more than 300 bus routes across the region.
Along with Columbus Day, these service changes will be in effect on Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, because historically fewer people ride on those holidays.
In addition to realigning bus service to demand, Metro will use savings from the changes to introduce additional service changes in December, including two new direct bus routes from Virginia into the District of Columbia, a limited-stop service between Capitol Heights and downtown Washington, and increased frequency of buses between Silver Spring and Bethesda.
Beginning Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, the following Metrobus routes will not operate in Maryland: 87, 88, B27, B29, B31, C11, 13 and W19; and in Virginia: 3Y, 9S, 11Y, 15K 15L, 15M, 16L, 16Y, 17G, 17H, 17K 17L, 18E 18F, 18G, 18H 18J, 24T and 28T.
Other routes will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule. There will be 26 routes in the District of Columbia, 12 routes in Virginia, and 1 route in Maryland with this service pattern.
See a complete list of holiday service adjustments at http://www.wmata.com/rail/schedules/special_holiday_service.pdf.
The holiday service adjustments are designed to match capacity to demand, reduce redundancy, streamline travel paths, implement enhancements and respond to customer requests for added service. While there is service reduction on some routes, customers can expect to see faster, more direct bus service on popular routes in the three jurisdictions.
Metro will also make minor additional adjustments in the future, based on jurisdictional planning efforts, school closings and relocations, roadway construction, special events, the planned opening of the new Silver Spring Transit Center, and a general need to ensure safe operations and improve schedule reliability.
News release issued at 4:12 pm, October 6, 2010.