MetroExtra explained

MetroExtra
Parent:WMATA
Founded:March 19 2007; 16 years ago
Headquarters:Washington, D.C., US
Locale:Washington Metropolitan Area
Service Type:Express, limited-stop
Routes:6
Operator:WMATA
Leader:Randy Clarke

MetroExtra is a limited-stop service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates on Metrobus lines that need extra service with faster trips. There are six MetroExtra routes with only two of them having daily service.

History

The service began in 2007 with an express service of the Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line, 79.[1] The route would follow its local counterpart but only serve the most important stops.

In 2008, a study was released along the 16th Street corridor to improve the line by both WMATA and the District Department of Transportation. The corridor averages a weekday ridership of 16,000 making it the third most heavily used line in the Metrobus system, Parts of the proposal were to create a new route S3 which would be shortened routes S1, S2, and S4, and create a limited stop route S9.[2] These 2 routes would then become the most popular MetroExtra routes.[3]

On September 29, 2002 route 16Y began service, the first bus route to provide service in Downtown Washington since 1983.[4] However, it didn't become a MetroExtra route until 2012 (along with route 16F).[5] When route 16X discontinued in 2018,[6] route 16Y became the only MetroExtra to operate in Virginia.

In 2015, WMATA proposed a new MetroExtra route, Q9. The route would provide limited stop service supplementing the Veirs Mill Road Line. The route would operate between Rockville station and Wheaton station and be the first Metro Extra route to operate exclusively in Montgomery County, Maryland.[7]

Fleet

See main article: Metrobus fleet (Washington, D.C.). MetroExtra uses the same fleet as Metrobus. However, the buses are coated blue and have the MetroExtra logo slapped over the Metrobus logo for easier identification.[8] Some of the yellow signage has also been recolored green.

Routes

MetroExtra routes follow the same numbering as local Metrobus routes. Although, they typically end with a 9.

RouteTerminalsStreets traveledService notesDivisionsLocal counterpart
59
14th Street Line
Takoma stationFederal Triangle station
  • Bladensburg
52, 54
79
Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line
Silver Spring stationArchives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
  • Daily service
  • Montgomery
70
16Y
Columbia Pike Line
BarcroftMcPherson Square station
  • Four Mile Run
16A, 16C, 16E
16M
3Y
K9
New Hampshire Avenue-Maryland Line
Fort Totten stationFDA
  • Montgomery
K6
S9
16th Street Line
Silver Spring stationMcPherson Square station
  • Daily service
S2
D31
X9
Benning Road-H Street Line
Capitol Heights stationGallery Place-Chinatown
  • Southern Avenue
X2
V2, V4

Former routes

These routes have existed in the past but were discontinued. However, most local service along these routes remained.

RouteTerminalsStreets traveledService notesDivisionsLocal counterpart
16F, 16X
Columbia Pike Line
CulmoreFederal Triangle station
  • Four Mile Run
16B, 16S
37
Wisconsin Avenue Line
Friendship Heights stationArchives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
  • Montgomery
31, 33
39
Pennsylvania Avenue Line
Naylor Road stationPotomac Park
  • Shepherd Parkway
32, 36
F14
A9
Anacostia-Livingston Line
LivingstonMcPherson Square station
  • Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
A6, A7, A8
G9
Rhode Island Avenue Line
Mount Rainier Terminal
  • Bladensburg
G8
83, 86
J4
Bethesda-Silver Spring Line
Bethesda stationCollege Park-U of Md
  • Montgomery
J1, J2
W9
Anacostia-Fort Drum Line
L'Enfant Plaza stationDouglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building
  • Shepherd Parkway
A4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New MetroExtra provides faster Metrobus service along Georgia Avenue . 28 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Metro looks to add express bus service to 16th Street Line in D.C. . 28 January 2024 . 15 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090215111742/http://wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2463 . dead .
  3. Web site: Metrobus Ridership Summary . 28 January 2024.
  4. Web site: This week in Metro (Monday, September 30, 2002) . www.wmata.com . 20 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Coming soon: Less bus bunching, more MetroExtra . Greater Greater Washington . 20 April 2024.
  6. Web site: Metrobus Service Changes, June 24 - WMATA . www.wmata.com . 20 April 2024.
  7. Web site: WMATA Q9 MetroExtra Service . montgomerycountymd.gov . 7 April 2024.
  8. Web site: Metro begins express bus service and other improvements to 16th Street Line . 28 January 2024.