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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.

What's New?

We've started a Twitter feed! Now you can follow Metrobus Studies at http://twitter.com/MetrobusStudies. Sign up (it's free) to receive project updates, news about upcoming public meetings, and more.

Public meetings have recently been held for the U Street-Garfield (90s) Line study and the K6-New Hampshire Avenue Line study. Click on the U Street-Garfield Line page or the K6 Line page for details. Also, rider surveys were conducted on the U Street-Garfield (90s) Line in April. The purpose of the public meetings and surveys was to collect feedback from riders about changes and improvements they'd like Metro to make on those lines. Click on the links above to take an on-line version of the surveys. Metro and its partner agencies will now explore a variety of options to help solve the problems identified during the public involvement process. Additionally, the implementation process is set to get underway for the Benning Road-H Street Line; please visit this site in the coming weeks for updates on the "X Line" project.

Which corridors are being studied?

To date, eight Metrobus lines have been studied or are in the process of being studied:

• The U Street-Garfield Line study of routes 90, 92, and 93 began in March 2010.
• The K6 Line study of route K6 also began in March 2010.
• The Benning Road-H Street Line study of routes X1, X2, and X3 began in mid-2009. The study is now complete, and Metro is preparing to begin the implementation phase.
• 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.
• 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.
• An Evaluation of the changes that were made to the 70s Line in 2007 (routes 70, 71, and 79) and the 30s Line in 2008 was conducted in 2009; this page contains information about the review.
• Metrobus Service Evaluation of Routes B2; D12/13/14; 23 A/C; and 25 A/C/D.
  
  

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 here. 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 703-682-5060. 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.

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.