Metro, in partnership with Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T), is working to launch tactical bus lanes on Silver Hill Road (MD 458), between the Suitland Metrorail station and West Avenue. Tactical bus lanes will allow buses to travel in dedicated lanes and bypass traffic congestion. This gives Metrobus customers a better bus experience by increasing safety and reliability. Increased reliability will also improve bus connections to Metrorail’s Green Line, as well as residential and retail, and employers.

The Silver Hill Road Corridor was selected based on bus service data such as number of routes, how frequently buses arrive, transit ridership, and bus speed along the corridor. The bus lanes will primarily serve Metrobus routes D12, D14, K12, P12, V12 as well as TheBus 34

In addition to the bus lanes, additional features to reduce bus delays caused by traffic congestion will be implemented. These include a queue jump signal for buses, a median bus lane bypass, and modifications to signal timing.

Design

Metro began the design phase in summer 2022 and is expected to complete the design in December 2023. The bus lane along Silver Hill Road will be dedicated to buses 24 hours per day, seven days per week and will be marked with red paint. Once designed, construction will involve roadway resurfacing, painting, striping, installing a bus signal, and updating signage.

Construction

After construction funding is secured, MDOT SHA will be responsible for managing the implementation of the project, overseeing construction and maintenance activities, in coordination with WMATA and DPW&T. Once construction is complete, an assessment of transit and traffic performance metrics will be taken to evaluate the bus lanes’ effectiveness.