Welcome to the homepage! (En español)

Thank you for visiting Metrobus Studies, the official website for information about the restructuring of priority bus corridors by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). For the last few years, Metrobus has been working with local transportation agencies in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to study and make improvements to the region's most heavily used bus lines. This website is your home for information about the studies, including maps, reports, publications, upcoming events, rider surveys, and more. Each page has an index at left; use this list to navigate the website and obtain information about each of the individual studies.

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Which corridors are being studied?

Priority Corridor Studies and evaluations of Metrobus lines that are currently underway:

• A review of the guidelines that Metro uses in evaluating its bus services is scheduled to begin in late 2013.
• An assessment of potential improvements to Metrobus late-night service is also set to begin in late 2013.
• A service evaluation of the Oxon Hill area began in October 2013.
• A Priority Corridor Study of the Metrobus Rhode Island Avenue-Baltimore Avenue Line began in June 2013.
• A Priority Corridor Study of the Metrobus 29 Lines began in May 2013.

The following Metrobus Priority Corridor Network studies were conducted between 2007 and present:

• A study of Metrobus Route 80, the North Capitol Street Line, began in October 2012 and was completed in September 2013.
• A study of Routes C2-C4, the Greenbelt-Twinbrook Line, began in November 2012 and was completed in September 2013.
• The F4-F6 Line study of the East-West Highway corridor in Maryland began in February 2012 and was completed in August 2012.
• A study of the 14th Street Line (Routes 52, 53, 54) in Northwest DC began in January 2012 and was completed in October 2012.
• Part 2 of the Y Line study of Metrobus Routes Y5, Y7, Y8, and Y9 along Georgia Avenue in Maryland was completed in July 2012.
• The A Lines study of Metrobus routes in Southeast DC — including the A2/6/7/8/42/46/48, the A4/5, and the A9 — was completed at the end of 2011.
• The 90s Line study of Routes 90, 92, and 93 began in March 2010. The study is complete, and Metro and the District Department of Transportation have implemented some elements of the recommendations, including closer supervision to ensure adequate separation between 90s Line buses.
• The K6 Line study of Route K6 was completed in January 2011, and the draft recommendations are now being reviewed. Metro and its partner agencies in Maryland will next evaluate what needs to be done to implement the study's first phase of recommendations, which are yet to be approved by the WMATA Board.
  
• The Benning Road-H Street Line study of Routes X1, X2, and X3 began in mid-2009. The study is now complete, and Metro implemented additional improvements, including the Metro Express X9 service, in December 2010.
• The 28-Leesburg Pike Line study of Route 28A (and former route 28B) began in late 2008. The first phase of implementation began in December 2009.
• The Q Line study of Route Q2 began also began in late 2008, with the first phase of implementation beginning in December 2009. An evaluation of the improvements that were implemented in 2009 was completed in Summer of 2013.
• The 16th Street Line study of Routes S1, S2, and S4 took place in 2008-09. The first phase of implementation began in March 2009.
• The 30s Line study of Routes 32, 34, and 36 (and former routes 30 and 35) took place from 2007 to 2008. The first phase of implementation began in June 2008.

In addition to the above corridor studies, many other Metrobus lines and systemwide bus facilities have been evaluated for service improvements since 2009:

• A service evaluation of Metrobus Routes A11 and A12 was completed in February 2014.
• A service evaluation of Metrobus Routes 10A, 10B, and 10E was completed in December 2013.
• An evaluation of Metrobus Routes H1, H2, H3, H4, H8, and H9 was completed in November 2013.
• An evaluation of Metrobus Routes 4A-4B-4E-4H, the Pershing Drive-Arlington Boulevard Line, was completed in June 2013.
• An evaluation of Metrobus Routes B21, B22, B24, B25, B27, B29, and B31, the Bowie Lines, was completed in June 2013.
• The On-Street Bus Terminal Study was completed in March 2013.
• An evaluation of Metrobus Routes 96-97, the East Capitol-Cardozo Line, was completed in February 2013.
• An evaluation of service on the Wilson Boulevard Line began in March 2012 and was completed in July 2012.
• An evaluation of service on the Central Avenue Line began in April 2012 and was completed in July 2012.
• Metrobus Service Evaluation Studies (Part 2, 2011) of Route W4. The evaluation is complete and recommendations are to be sent to the WMATA Board for approval in 2012.
• Metrobus Service Evaluation Studies (Part 1, 2011) of Routes 87/88; 89/89M; E2/E3/E4; E6; 7A/E/F/Y; 7B/C/D/H/P/W/X; 5A; and B30. This study is complete and recommendations will be submitted to the Metro Board for approval in 2012.
• Metrobus Service Evaluation Studies (2010) of Routes B2; D12/13/14; 23 A/C; and 25 A/C/D.
• Metrobus Service Evaluation Studies (2009) of the improvements made to the 70s Line in 2007 (routes 70, 71, and 79) and the 30s Line in 2008.
  

How are the studies being conducted?

Metrobus and its partner agencies are approaching these corridor studies in a similar fashion. For each one, the study team identifies the needs and deficiencies of the existing routes, then considers the kind of improvements that can be made in terms of vehicle types, alignments, and bus stop designs and locations. Public involvement is critical to the identification of problems and potential solutions. The team then investigates a variety of service options and analyzes the ways in which increased supervision, traffic management, communication, and other techniques will help make the routes run more efficiently. Finally, the study team develops a strategy and schedule to phase in the improvements and determines sources of funding.

Each study goes through a two-part process. In the first part, the study team:

• Conducts a survey of riders—in paper, on-line, and in-person formats—to get feedback from Metrobus customers and local communities.
• Hosts a series of public meetings so that participants can further identify issues and possible improvements and comment on options and recommendations.
• Interviews bus drivers and supervisors to get their take on service deficiencies and specific locations of delays.
• Determines how often buses along the corridor fail to adhere to schedules and routes.
• Documents the frequency of late and missed trips, detours, and bunching of buses.
• Studies current traffic operations along the corridor.
  
• Evaluates roadway conditions, curbside uses, and points of delay.
• Reviews bus stop conditions to improve amenities, access, signage, and locations.
  

During the second part of the study process, the study team:

• Coordinates with existing transit and traffic projects whenever possible, and builds on work that has already been completed.
• Suggests routing, vehicle requirements, and the location of bus stops.
• Makes long-term ridership forecasts.
• Details the benefits to passengers via outreach campaigns.
• Enhances training requirements and materials for bus drivers.
• Creates new standards and procedures for supervisors.
  
• Sets operations control standards to measure performance and communicate with passengers.
• Examines ways of speeding up fare payment, passenger loading, and boarding and exiting buses.

Contact us!

WMATA is relying on feedback from Metrobus riders and communities served by the priority corridors to guide us in developing recommendations for improvements. If you have any questions, would like to share your views about potential improvements, or want to be added to the mailing list to receive updates on Metrobus studies and public meetings, please send us an e-mail. Your message will be kept confidential, and your email address will not be shared with any other parties.

Or to speak with a member of the study team, please call 703-340-3105. Note: this telephone number is only for the discussion of studies in the Metrobus Priority Corridor Restructuring Series. If you have a question, suggestion, complaint, or commendation about Metrorail or other Metrobus lines, please call WMATA Customer Service at 202-637-1328.

For language interpretation at any Metrobus public meeting, call 202-962-1082 at least 2 days before the meeting.

Thank you for your interest in these Metrobus studies. Your participation will greatly help WMATA make decisions about ways to make Metro the best ride in the nation.