WMATA New Flyer XN40 running on the 32 route in the "Local" scheme.An Orion VII CNG in the "MetroExtra" scheme in Washington DCRoute S4 in Washington DC
Most Metrobus routes in DC begin with a letter followed by a number but some routes can have double digit numbers.[1][2]
Odd-numbered routes are typically part-time variants of even-numbered routes. At one time, odd numbered routes were express routes, but that distinction has been abandoned. Most odd-numbered routes operates during rush hours and or limited stops with a few of them running into the off peak hours and weekends.
History
Many current routes operate under former streetcar routes. The streetcars provided the main transportation in the Washington, D.C. area from the 1800s to the 1960s.[3] DC Transit would also operate on the former streetcar routes when the Streetcars ended service. In 1973, WMATA acquired DC Transit along with other bus companies to form its current Metrobus system.[4]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, service was mostly reduced to Sunday service schedules during the weekdays with select routes suspended from March 18 until August 22, 2020. Routes 54, 70, 90, A6, A8, B2, H4, S4, V4, W4, and X2 were the only routes that ran during the weekends with the rest of the routes suspended.[5] On August 23, 2020, more routes came back during the weekdays and weekends returning Metrobus service to 75%.[6] Most service and routes resumed on September 5, 2021.
On November 21, 2024, WMATA approved its Better Bus Network Redesign, which began in 2022. Under the plan, all routes will be renamed with easier to understand route designations, and modify most of its existing routes with the goal of making the bus system easier to use, faster, and more reliable. Changes are expected to start on June 29, 2025. All Washington D.C. routes will be renamed with a C (for crosstown routes) or D (routes entering Downtown) route designation.[7]
Routes
Most DC Metrobus routes operate inside the Washington DC borders. However, some routes would venture into small parts of Montgomery County and Prince George's County to connect to various stations in the Hub-and-spoke system via the old Streetcar routing.
Some trips operate from Brookland–CUA station to Farragut Square during weekday AM peak hours and between Brookland-CUA station and Avondale during weekday PM peak hours.
W3: Monday-Saturday service between 9am-3pm only via Good Hope Marketplace (No Sunday service)
W2 skips the United Medical Center Roadway and end/begin at Southern Avenue station after 9pm daily, passengers wishing to visit the hospital must alight/board on Southern Ave.
Late night W2 service operates between Anacostia station and Naylor Road & Alabama Avenue only
Serves Capitol Heights station during rush hour only.
Midday service operates between Gallery Place & Minnesota Avenue station only.
Limited stops only
Southern Avenue
School Routes
These routes connect schools to Washington Metro stations or other local points. They are primarily intended for students, but are open to anyone, and stop at all stops along their routes. These routes will only operate when District of Columbia Public Schools are open.
31 was created on June 29, 2008, to operate between the Foggy Bottom and Friendship Heights stations when 30 was discontinued. (see Pennsylvania Avenue Line)[9]
33 was introduced on August 24, 2014, to replace the 32 and 36 between Friendship Heights and Archives & is a "reincarnated" route 30.[10]
31 weekend service has been suspended since March 21, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
32 and 36 replaced almost all of 30, 34, and 35's routing between Naylor Road & Friendship Heights Metro stations on June 29, 2008. (See Pennsylvania Avenue Line)[9]
34 originally operated between Naylor Road & Friendship stations until June 29, 2008, when it was discontinued being replaced by new Route M5. M5 renamed to route 34 when it was "reincarnated" and was extended to Archives station in December 2008.[14]
32 and 36 have been truncated from Friendship Heights station to Foggy Bottom station as of August 24, 2014, and no longer operate via Wisconsin Ave NW being replaced by the 30N, 30S, 31 and 33.[10]
As of March 27, 2016, Weekday Route 34 service after 9:19 PM & all weekend service were discontinued. Alternative service is available on routes 30N and 36.[15]
34 was suspended on March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
24-hour service for the 32 was introduced on December 17, 2023.[12]
52 & 54 originally terminated at Navy Yard until the Navy Yard station opened in December, 1991.
When it opened, 52 was truncated to only operate up to L'Enfant Plaza station & Route 54 was truncated to only operate up to Federal Triangle. 54 was later extended to terminate at L'Enfant Plaza.
Route 53 was introduced on September 18, 1999, several years after the former route 50 was discontinued, operating at first to Bureau Of Engraving before being shortened to Federal Triangle and now to Franklin Square.
Route 54 discontinued service between L'Enfant Plaza and Federal Triangle on June 26, 2016.[16]
Route 53 was discontinued on December 17, 2017, and replaced by Route 54, which in turn, was truncated to Metro Center on the same date.[17]
Route 52 was rerouted to 12th Street & Maine Avenue SW via The Wharf on December 17, 2017.[17]
60 originally operated between Fort McNair and 11th Street NW & Monroe Street NW (Petworth). However; around December, 1991, 60 was rerouted to operate between the Fort Totten station & Federal Triangle instead of operating between Buzzard Point and Petworth.
On September 18, 1999, both 60 & 64 were truncated even further to only operate between the Fort Totten & Georgia Avenue stations with the portion replaced by the 66.
Route 60 was split from the 64 remaining as the Fort-Totten Petworth Line on June 6, 2021.[18]
62, 63
62 originally operated all the way between the Takoma station and Buzzard Point (Half & O Sts. SW)
In December, 1991, 62 was truncated to only operate between the Takoma station & Federal Triangle.
On September 18, 1999, 68 took over the portion of 62's routing between the Georgia Avenue station and Federal Triangle that had been discontinued.
On December 28, 2008, route 68 was extended from Georgia Avenue to Takoma station via the 62's routing and renamed to a new route 63.[14]
63 operates through the portion of the 62 that operated to Federal Triangle until Georgia Avenue–Petworth station opened on September 18, 1999.
63 service along Sherman Avenue and 13th, H, and I streets NW was eliminated on September 5, 2021. Route now follows the 64 routing to Federal Triangle.[19]
64
64 originally operated between Half Street SW & O Street SW (Buzzard Point) and 11th Street NW & Monroe Street NW (Petworth) alongside 60 until December, 1991 when it was rerouted to operate between the Fort Totten station & Federal Triangle to replace the K4.
On September 18, 1999, both 60 & 64 were truncated even further to only operate between the Fort Totten & Georgia Avenue stations with the portion replaced by the 66.
In 2008, 64's original routing between Fort Totten and Federal Triangle was restored and replaced the 66.[14]
64 also runs on the old 11th Street Streetcar Line.
64 was rerouted on 11th Street between Florida Avenue & S Street NW to Florida & Vermont Avenues NW to directly serve the U Street Station on June 24, 2018.[20]
Route 64 was split from the 60 and renamed as the Fort Totten–Federal Triangle Line on June 6, 2021.[18]
Since September 25, 2011, route 71 service was discontinued, while the 70 was shortened to Archives. For service to Southwest Waterfront, see route directly below this one (74).[21]
Introduced on September 25, 2011, as a replacement of DC Circulator's discontinued Convention Center-Southwest Waterfront route, as well as the discontinued portion of the 70 and 71 lines between Archives and Buzzard Point.[22][21]
Service was extended back to Buzzard Point beginning on August 23, 2020.[6]
79 is a "reincarnation" of the old 73 (Brightwood Express Line) that was discontinued on June 25, 2000, only with the exception that unlike 73, which operated between Georgia & Alaska Aves. NW and L'Enfant Plaza, 79 would operate between the Silver Spring Station and Archives
Began service originally as a rush hour/peak period only route on March 19, 2007[23]
Mid-Day non-rush hour/peak period service began on June 24, 2007
80 operated on the North Capitol Street Streetcar Line, alongside 81 between Brookland & West Potomac Park
80 & 81 later extended to Riggs Road NE, via 12th Street NE and South Dakota Avenue NE during the early 1970s although both routes were eventually truncated to the Fort Totten Metro Station on February 19, 1978, shortly after it opened
81 operated alongside 80 until sometime around 1996/1997. 81 was then shifted over to operate as part of the College Park Line operating via 83's former routing between Rhode Island Avenue station & Cherry Hill via Greenbelt station, once 83 was rerouted to operate to serve the College Park - U of MD Station instead of the Greenbelt Station. Unlike Route 83, 81 would only operate on Sundays to avoid duplicating C2's already existing Metrobus Service between the University of Maryland and Greenbelt Station, Monday-Saturday, as well as much of 83's already existing Metrobus Service Monday-Saturday between the Rhode Island Avenue Station & Cherry Hill.
Every other weekday trip operates between Fort Totten and McPherson Square only as of March 30, 2014.[27]
All service to Kennedy Center was eliminated on September 5, 2021, being replaced by the 42 and 43. Service now terminates at McPherson Square.[19]
90 replaced all portions of the 94 north of Anacostia station which became the 94's northern terminal after it opened in 1991
93 originally operated as part of the Garfield-Owl Line alongside the former 91 route until January 13, 2001 when it was discontinued. 93 was shifted over to operate as part of the U Street-Garfield Line and extended from its original Stanton Road terminus, to operate to the newly opened Congress Heights station during late nights only.
90, 92, and 93 operated all the way up to McLean Gardens from the mid-1990s until June 24, 2007, when all three routes were truncated to only operate up to Duke Ellington Bridge being replaced by Route 96, which was extended from its original terminus at Duke Ellington Bridge to the McLean Gardens on June 24, 2007.[29]
Beginning June 22, 2014, all northbound Route 92 service was truncated from Duke Ellington Bridge to U and 14th Streets, NW terminus and all Route 92 southbound service begins at U & 13th Streets, NW (U Street station, 13th Street NW entrance).[30]
96 originally operated as part of the "U-Street - Garfield Line", between DC General Hospital and McLean Gardens alongside Routes 90, 92, 94, & 98 up until December 28, 1991, when only Routes 90 & 92 were retained as part of the line, while 94 was split into its own line known as the, "Stanton Road Line", alongside the 95 route (which was eventually discontinued on January 13, 2001) between Anacostia Station and Stanton Road, while 98 was discontinued, and 96 was split into its own line known as the, "New Jersey Avenue Line", and truncated to only operate up to Duke Ellington Bridge instead of McLean Gardens
96 replaced the segment of the former routes 40 and 44 routing between Stadium Armory and Capitol Heights station in March, 1995
96 was once again extended from Duke Ellington Bridge back to its original terminus at McLean Gardens on June 24, 2007, to replace the segment of 90, 92, & 93's routing between the Duke Ellington Bridge & McLean Gardens[29]
96 was then later on extended from McLean Gardens to Tenleytown-AU station September 30, 2012.[31]
97 was suspended since March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
A2
Formerly known as the Anacostia Line (along with A4, A6, A7, A8) until 1991
Routes A42, A46, & A48 created as brand new Metrobus Routes on December 28, 1991, to provide the same level of service that Routes A2, A4 A6, A7, & A8 formerly did to Archives in Downtown Washington D.C., only with the exception that they would only operate late night service when the P6 Metrobus Service was unavailable. Routes A42, A46 and A48 was discontinued on June 26, 2016, and replaced by new late night/early morning P6 trips between Anacostia Station & Archives, as well as extended service on the A2, A6, and A8 Metrobus Routes.
Route A2 skips the United Medical Center Roadway during late nights, passengers wishing to visit hospital must alight/board on Southern Ave.
Route A2 was split into the Anacostia–Washington Highlands Line on June 6, 2021.[18]
A4
A4 and A5 operated to Archives station (as part of the Anacostia Line) until Anacostia station opened in 1991
The route north of Anacostia is now served by route P6
The A5 covered the A4 route but excluded Fort Drum. It was discontinued on March 24, 2013, replaced by the W5 which runs on South Capitol Street (SB) and DC-295 (NB).[24]
Route W5 was separated from the line on June 6, 2021.[18]
Service to the US Coast Guard Headquarters was discontinued on December 17, 2023.[12]
A6, A7, A8
Destination signs on A7 evening rush hour buses reads "Livingston via Wheeler Road", but it does not serve 4501 3rd Street, SE. It serves Southern Avenue & South Capitol Street, SE instead.
Formerly known as the Anacostia Line (along with A2, A4, A5) until 1991
A42, A46 and A48 replaced the old portions of the A2, A4, A6 and A8 north of Anacostia station to Archives as of December 28, 1991, when Anacostia opened and Routes A2, A4, A6, and A8 Metrobus Routes were truncated to only operate up to the Anacostia Station
Routes A42, A46 and A48 was discontinued on June 26, 2016, and replaced by routes A2, A6 and A8 respectively.[16]
Routes A6, A7 & A8 were split into the Anacostia-Livingston Line on June 6, 2021.[18]
24-hour service for the A6 and A8 was introduced on December 17, 2023, which was also extended to L'Enfant Plaza station.[12]
B2 was extended from Mount Rainier to Chillum (Eastern Ave & Rittenhouse Sts. NE), during the 1960s to replace the former DC Transit Route K6 "New Hampshire Avenue - Chillum Road Line" routing between Mount Rainier and Chillum, via 34th Street, Rainier Avenue, Upshur Street, 28th Place, Russell Avenue, Arundel Road, 25th Street, Queens Chapel Road, Carson Circle, La Salle Road, 19th Avenue, and Chillum Road. However; on February 19, 1978, the F2 "Chillum Road Line" Metrobus Route took over this particular segment of B2's routing between Mount Rainier and Chillum, once it began operating between Mount Rainier and the Takoma Station. Once this happened, B2 was then truncated back to its original terminus at Mount Rainier.
B2 kept much of its historical streetcar routing the same, only with the exception that it was rerouted to serve Stadium Armory and Potomac Avenue stations when they opened in 1977 and also extended from its previous terminus at 16 Street & W Street in Anacostia all the way up to the Anacostia station in the adjacent neighborhood of Barry Farms when Anacostia station opened in December, 1991.
B2 covered the portion of the former B4 & B5 routes to Barry Farms after the station opened.
24-hour service was introduced on December 17, 2023.[12]
D6 originally operated between Glover Park and Washington Hospital Center (as part of the Glover Park-Trinidad Line) until March 1995 when the line was discontinued. D6 was later "reincarnated" to operate as part of the Sibley Hospital-Stadium Armory Line in January 1999 to replace the segment of D2's routing between Stadium-Armory and Dupont Circle that had been discontinued and the segment of D4's routing between Dupont Circle and Sibley Hospital that had been discontinued.
D8 originally operated between Friendship Heights to Distaff Hall and then rerouted between Sibley Hospital & Washington Hospital Center, via Downtown Washington D.C. until March, 1995 when its routing was truncated to only operate between the Washington Hospital Center & Union Station.
Route D6 replaced the rest of D8's former routing between the Union Station & Sibley Hospital, via Downtown Washington D.C.
E2 originally operated alongside the E3 & E4, between Ivy City & Friendship Heights station, via Fort Totten station, until June 21, 2015, when its routing was truncated to only operate between Ivy City and Fort Totten station.[33]
The rest of E2's routing between the Fort Totten & Friendship Heights was replaced by Route E4.[33]
G8 is a combination of the former G4 & G6 that operated to Lafayette Square (G4) & Avondale (G6) up until March 12, 1995.
G8 had a prior "incarnation" as the "Prince George's - Langley Park" Line, operating between Prince George's Hospital and Langley Park. However; G8 was discontinued on December 3, 1978, and replaced by the F8 Metrobus Route, which was extended from Prince George's Hospital to the Cheverly Station.
H2 & H4 originally operated all the way between Westmoreland Circle and Fort Lincoln up until September 18, 1999
Then, on September 18, 1999, H6 replaced H2 & H4's routing between the Brookland-CUA station and Fort Lincoln, while the N8 Metrobus Route replaced the segment of H2 & H4's former routing between the Tenleytown-AU Station and Westmoreland Circle.
As a result, H4 was truncated to operate between the Brookland-CUA & Tenleytown-AU Stations, while H2 was truncated to only operating between the Brookland-CUA & Van Ness-UDC Station
H3 was created as a brand new route on September 18, 1999, to operate alongside the H2 and H4 between the Brookland-CUA and Tenleytown-AU stations, replacing the segment of H2's routing west of the intersection of Porter Street NW & Connecticut Avenue NW that was discontinued, and H2 was truncated to operate up to the Van Ness-UDC station
H2 was later extended to the Tenleytown-AU station, replacing the N8 east of Tenleytown-AU station on December 19, 2010
H3 was suspended since March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
24-hour service for the H4 was introduced on December 17, 2023.[12]
H6
H6 originally operated between the Brookland-CUA station & Kennedy Center as part of the Brookland-Kennedy Center Line from February, 1978 until March, 1995.
H6 was eventually reincarnated on September 18, 1999, to operate as part of the 'Brookland-Fort Lincoln Linebetween Brookland-CUA station and Fort Lincoln, in order to replace the segment of H2 & H4's routing past Brookland-CUA station
H8, H9
H8 began serving the Georgia Avenue-Petworth & Columbia Heights stations once both Metro Stations opened in September, 1999
L1 was suspended since March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
L2 late-night service to Bethesda and Friendship Heights stations was eliminated on September 5, 2021, which has been suspended since March 2020.[19]
M4
Route M4 was extended to Western Avenue & Oregon Avenue on June 6, 2021, partially replacing the E6. The route was extended to the Knollwood Retirement Home on May 29, 2022, replacing the E6.[36]
M6
Formerly known as the W6 until the early/mid-1990s
N3 was part of the Massachusetts Av-Federal Triangle Line (along with the former N1) until 1996, when N1 was eliminated & N3 merged with the N2, N4 & N6.
N4 used to terminate at Westmoreland Circle until the late 1990s.
P4, P5 & P6 were created to replace the A routes in 1991 when Anacostia station opened, with P5 additionally replacing the B6 between Metro Center & Rhode Island Avenue stations. P4 & P5 later merged with the P6 around March, 1995, giving it the current route.
Routes P1 and P2 were discontinued on June 17, 2012.[35]
Late night and early morning trips between Anacostia and Archives stations was added on June 26, 2016, to replace routes A42, A46 and A48 which were discontinued on the same date.[16]
U8 was created to replace the former X2, X4 & X6 routes east of Minnesota Avenue station in March, 1995 (X2 to Capitol Heights station, X4 & X6 to Benning Heights) on the portion of the former routing between the Minnesota Avenue & Capitol Heights Metro Stations.
U8 was shortened to operate between Benning Heights and Minnesota Ave station and was renamed "Benning Heights Line" on June 21, 2015.[33]
Service between Capitol Heights and Minnesota Ave stations is now provided by routes V2 and V4 along the route previously served by route U8.
W4's original routing to Bolling Air Force Base was discontinued and the W4 was extended to Anacostia station on June 29, 2003, due to heightened security at the Bolling Air Force Base Gates.
W4 has not operated between Capital Plaza and Deanwood Station since March 24, 2013, when a portion of that route was discontinued. As a result, the W4 was truncated and now operates between Deanwood Station and Anacostia Station.[24]
24-hour service was introduced on December 17, 2023.[12]
W5
The A5 covered the A4 route but excluded Fort Drum. It was discontinued on March 24, 2013, replaced by the W5 which runs on South Capitol Street (SB) and DC-295 (NB).[24]
Route W5 was split from the A4 and renamed into the Anacostia–Blue Plains Line on June 6, 2021.[18]
Service to the US Coast Guard Headquarters was discontinued on December 17, 2023.[12]
W6, W8
Portions of the W6 & W8 operate on the old M18 & M20 (The "Metro-Mini" buses) routes
X2 originally operated between Seat Pleasant and Lafayette Square
X2 was extended from Seat Pleasant to Capitol Heights Station on January 4,
X2 operated to Capitol Heights station until the March, 1995 when the route east of Minnesota Avenue station (along with the former X4 and X6 route south of the station) were replaced by the U8.
24-hour service for the X2 was introduced on December 17, 2023.[12]
X8
Originally Operated between Carver Terrace & Lafayette Square, but was later truncated around February, 1978 to only operate between Carver Terrace and Union Station
Formerly known as the, "East Capitol Street Express" Line, which Routes X2 & X4 used to operate as part of. This route was discontinued in the late 1980s and then "reincarnated" in December 2010.
As of the late 1980s, X2 has only terminated at the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station, while the X4 was discontinued.
Midday service was added on June 24, 2018, which is shortened to operate between Gallery Place and Minnesota Avenue station only.
Upcoming DC Better Bus Routes
These bus routes will begin on June 29, 2025 when WMATA Better Bus Redesign is released.
Combination of the former Route P6 between L'Enfant Plaza and Anacostia, and Route A8 along Martin Luther King Avenue SE and South Capitol Street SE with an extension to National Harbor via Indian Head Highway.
C13
Combination of the former Routes A2, A6, and A7 with an extension to Eastover Shopping Center.
C15
Combination of a modified Route A2 and A8 with an extension to Potomac Avenue station.
C17
Combination of a modified Route A2, A4, W2, and W3 with an extension to Eastover Shopping Center.
Modified routing from the former Route H6 between Brookland and Fort Lincoln with extensions to Washington Hospital Center (replacing the former H2 and H4) and Deanwood.
C71
Existing routing of the former Route E2 with an extension to Union station via K Street NE.
These routes have been served by Metrobus at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, duplication of another route, simplification to other routes, combined into another route, low funding, or transferred to another bus company as it would be cheaper to maintain cost and for another carrier to operate the line. However some routes would be reincarnated into new routes for Metrobus. Examples of reincarnations were the 34, V7, and V8.
A prior "incarnation" of the 37 was once known as the Wisconsin Avenue Express Line, running from Tenleytown-AU station to Archives until the early 1990s when it was discontinued.
37 was then later "reincarnated" on June 29, 2008, to operate as a limited stop Route on the former segment of 34 and former Metrobus Route 35's original routing between the Archives Navy Memorial & Friendship Heights station which was discontinued.[9]
Suspended as of March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
39 was introduced on June 29, 2008, to provide weekday peak hour only, limited stop service between the Naylor Road & Foggy Bottom stations, but was eventually extended to operate to Potomac Park.[9]
Suspended as of March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
D1 was created as a brand new route in 1999 to replace the portion of D4's former routing between Union Station & Glover Park that had been discontinued when D4 was truncated to only operate between Ivy City and Union Station
D1 operated all the way between Ivy City & Glover Park until 2010 when its route was truncated to only operate between Federal Triangle & Glover Park.
D1 was shortened even further from Federal Triangle to only Franklin Square on June 26, 2016.[16]
Suspended as of March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
G9 had a prior incarnation as the Queens Chapel Road Line along with the former G7 until February 6, 1978, when both routes were discontinued and replaced by the R2, R4, R6, and R7
H1 was created as a brand new route on September 18, 1999, to operate as a "reincarnation" of the former H6 "Brookland - Kennedy Center" Line that was discontinued around March 1995
Suspended as of March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
X3 was discontinued for several years before it was brought back to service on June 25, 2000
X3 was extended from McLean Gardens to Tenleytown-AU station on September 30, 2012[31] but was truncated to Duke Ellington Bridge on June 26, 2016.[16]
Suspended as of March 16, 2020; later discontinued by September 5, 2021.[6]
