Jordan Pascale
Metro released its “visionary” bus network redesign maps on Monday, proposing drastically more bus service to the region. The plan, which is 35% more expensive than the current service, is unfunded so far.
The Better Bus project is the first comprehensive region-wide redesign of the entire Metrobus network since its creation in 1973. The new routes are the result of five years of work to make the system more user-friendly, equitable, and robust. It includes 100 bus routes with 20-minute frequencies or better (many have 12-minute frequencies) and simpler, more direct routes.
Metro is also proposing 24/7 hour service across the region for the first time, including a round-the-clock to Dulles Airport, several Metro stations, and elsewhere around the region.
The transit agency didn’t specifically list route-by-route changes, but some noticeable additions are a bus between Bethesda and Tysons, an extension of a bus route from Ballston to George Mason University instead of Dunn Loring, and the extension of a route from Silver Spring to Waterfront instead of Archives. You can see current routes mapped with proposed ones by filtering your specific route here.
Riders can compare and contrast their current bus trip with the proposed changes with this trip planner tool.
Parts of this network redesign could be coming to the region sometime in 2024 while full implementation may be years off.
You can see full PDFs of the maps including:
You can also view individual route proposals, which have been temporarily renamed with a state abbreviation and three-digit number, like DC100, for easier discussion during the redesign process. Metro is not yet proposing which lines should be “express/limited stop” service, nor is it proposing exact bus stop locations at this time.
Metro is hosting 50 events over the next 50 days to go over the proposed changes. You can also weigh in online.
You can read previous coverage of the bus network redesign here.
