Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 7, 2013

Metro, elected officials mark launch of new limited-stop bus service along New Hampshire Ave

Metro General Manager Richard Sarles today joined Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and other local elected officials, to mark the launch of the new MetroExtra bus service along New Hampshire Avenue from Northwest Park to Fort Totten Station. The new route, called the “K9,” adds new limited-stop service that will help relieve crowding along the busy New Hampshire Avenue corridor.

MetroExtra K9 buses operate every 15-20 minutes in each direction during morning and evening rush hours. K9 buses serve about half the stops as local K6 buses along the route, meaning a faster trip for some customers. The addition of K9 buses also will reduce crowding on K6 buses by adding trips along the corridor.

“Metro’s K9 Bus Priority Corridor service in Maryland will make a tremendous difference on busy New Hampshire Avenue, which has the third highest bus ridership in Maryland,” said Leggett. “The K9 is the first step in a Rapid Transit System for the New Hampshire Avenue corridor; the first phase of service we hope will extend to the Food and Drug Administration campus in White Oak and the start of a connection to the future Purple Line at the new Takoma Langley Transit Center.”

“The new K9 MetroExtra service will improve reliability, reduce crowding and travel time for thousands customers who travel along the New Hampshire Avenue corridor each weekday,” said Richard Sarles, Metro General Manager and CEO. “This new route is the latest product of our ‘Better Bus’ initiative, the largest investment in bus service improvements in more than five years.”

The new K9 service is an overlay to existing K6 buses, which will continue to serve all stops along the route with no schedule changes.

This new MetroExtra service is the result of a study process that included public meetings, onboard rider surveys and a detailed technical analysis to develop ways of improving transit service on the New Hampshire Avenue corridor. Information about the study process and final recommendations can also be found on the project website www.metrobus-studies.com/K6/K6.htm.

For bus schedule and route information, customers can visit wmata.com/bus.

News release issued at 2:49 pm, January 7, 2013.