Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 8, 2010
District of Columbia to get new, limited-stop Metrobus route
Dec. 19 service adjustments influenced by customer demand
A new, faster limited-stop Metrobus route, the X9, will take customers between Capitol Heights Metrorail station and 13th and H streets NW in downtown Washington D.C. beginning Dec. 20. The route will operate east and west every 15 minutes during the morning and evening rush periods, providing quick trips from downtown to points east, such as the new headquarters for the Department of Employment Services (near the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station).
Along with the implementation of the new X9, Metro will make several other route adjustments in the District of Columbia that are focused on improving service reliability for customers and using resources more cost-effectively.
Route H6 will be rerouted in Fort Lincoln to provide service to the Wesley House Senior Apartments. Route 32 will get one additional weekday, westbound trip between Southern Avenue and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations. Three weekday, southbound trips will be added to the L2, leaving Chevy Chase Circle at 7:27, 7:57 and 8:27 a.m. going to Van Ness-UDC Metrorail station. The additional trips aim to reduce overcrowding along the routes. For more details of service adjustments in the District of Columbia, click here. Also see District of Columbia upcoming timetables.
Metro staff developed the service enhancements at no additional cost by modifying service during times and on routes that are underused, and redirecting service to times and areas where demand for service is greater. For instance, stops that are underused or too close to other stops will be discontinued on routes such as the U8, 62 and 63. This streamlining decreases travel times on the affected routes and allows service resources to be used elsewhere.
Service will also be adjusted on Dec. 19 in Maryland and Virginia, bringing two new, direct bus routes from Virginia into the District of Columbia and more frequent service between Silver Spring and Bethesda, Md.
These service initiatives, which were approved by the Metro Board of Directors in late September, support Metro’s on-going efforts to enhance reliability and increase bus ridership by maximizing available resources. The staff relied on feedback from customers, bus operators and managers, local jurisdictions, formal studies and public hearings to prepare the service plans.
Metro is alerting bus customers of the changes through the distribution of informational brochures, postings on bus windows, interior bus ads, audio bus announcements, metroopensdoors.com website, tweets, news releases, customer call center messages, and installation of signs at select bus stops. Click here to view an electronic copy of the bus card.
News release issued at 11:49 am, December 8, 2010.