March Service Changes?

[Tristan]

Okay, WMATA usually makes service changes at the end of December, March, June, and September...schedules at commuterpage.com for the 10, 23, and REX are shown as changing on the 28th, but there's nothing on WMATA's website about it.  CommuterPage gets all their "change notifications" from WMATA, so something's changing but I can't find what it is.

Did I miss a press release on the WMATA site?

[79MetroExtraMD]

They have some of the new schedules up for the March schedule change and posted some of changes in the Route Changes section. I have seen the printed material circulating around on the buses. If I get the leaflet, I'll post the details on here if need be.

[OrionFlyer]

According to the WMATA site, it looks like the N22 is the only route thats going to be replaced by Circulator right now.

[79MetroExtraMD]

The 98 is as well. I'm not sure if it's in this change or for the June change, but I do know that the DC council did vote to transfer operations. I thought both the 98 and N22 were going to Circulator this month.

[rideonrulez]

I have the paper version of the service changes brochure. The routes that have changes are as follows:

DC: 53,70,71,*79 added peak trips,90,92,93,96,*98 going to DC Circulator,L2,*S1 added peak trips,S2,S4, the new *S9 16th St Express Line and W4. The weird thing is the S9 is not going to the temporary on street bus terminal at Silver Spring. You actually have to walk a few blocks to get this bus. The N22 was'nt on this list either, so I'm guessing that will be a June implementation.

MD: 87,NH1,P17,P19,Q2,V15,W13,W14

VA:10B,23A,REX

*I only noted anything that was worth while to mention.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I have the paper version of the service changes brochure. The routes that have changes are as follows:

DC: 53,70,71,*79 added peak trips,90,92,93,96,*98 going to DC Circulator,L2,*S1 added peak trips,S2,S4, the new *S9 16th St Express Line and W4. The weird thing is the S9 is not going to the temporary on street bus terminal at Silver Spring. You actually have to walk a few blocks to get this bus. The N22 was'nt on this list either, so I'm guessing that will be a June implementation.

MD: 87,NH1,P17,P19,Q2,V15,W13,W14

VA:10B,23A,REX

*I only noted anything that was worth while to mention.

The N22 is listed on the WMATA site as being discontinued in March, and various news outlets have also reported on it (though we know how reliable those can be).  There isn't anything on the Circulator site last I checked about either the 98 or N22.  My guess is we see the official release from WMATA with regards to changes very early on this week.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I have the paper version of the service changes brochure. The routes that have changes are as follows:

DC: 53,70,71,*79 added peak trips,90,92,93,96,*98 going to DC Circulator,L2,*S1 added peak trips,S2,S4, the new *S9 16th St Express Line and W4. The weird thing is the S9 is not going to the temporary on street bus terminal at Silver Spring. You actually have to walk a few blocks to get this bus. The N22 was'nt on this list either, so I'm guessing that will be a June implementation.

MD: 87,NH1,P17,P19,Q2,V15,W13,W14

VA:10B,23A,REX

*I only noted anything that was worth while to mention.

Regarding the S9, when I looked at the schedule, I was a bit awry about the routing around Silver Spring until I thought about the current situation. The stops along Wayne Ave for the S 70 71 and 79 are always backed up with either buses about to leave or laying over there.  Plus, it's a DC funded route, so i'm touting whether that reflected the route since the "origin" is the DC line. I just can't wait to see what will happen come the 30th when the line debuts. Alot of people might have to walk down to East-West & Colesville (or Colesville & 2nd. The map doesn't correctly orient the proximity to the station) to catch it as opposed to going on Wayne.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Here is the timetable from the WMATA site: http://wmata.com/bus/timetables/upcoming/DC/s9.pdf

I doubt the fact it is a DC funded route is the reason for the "midroute" layover.  My guess is that they didn't want to actually send the route into the station while the bus terminal is under construction.  However, since there are unused bays there now, I'm puzzled as to why they chose this option. 

Unfortunately, it looks as if the buses will layover for 9 minutes once they get back to Eastern Avenue, which doesn't really facilitate southbound travel.  It is too bad they couldn't have made it a 3-5 minute layover instead.

[OrionFlyer]

The S9 is going to have so may problems the first day.

I don't get that layover. Is it going to start at Eastern and 16th then right on 16th, right on EW, then right on Colesville, then left on Eastern? Or start at Eastern and 16th then right on Alaska?

[LandoverDivision]

Actually according to the service changes, it's suppose to go to 16th and Eastern VIA Silver Spring Station. I don't get that..

[79MetroExtraMD]

I think the main reason might be to accomodate the passengers along 16th Street as opposed to people coming from Silver Spring. The DC portion of the line gets the most people with only a handful heading all the way up to Silver Spring. Then, there are unused bays at Silver Spring. The bay for the J5 would have been a good option for it and people could just walk up Dixon to catch it. The DC line layover seems really odd especially since the northbound destination will sign as SILVER SPRING STATION and alot of people will be confused because they think it will go the same way as the S2 and S4. I heard they are putting two "special" supervisors along the route to accomodate the needs come the 30th.

[OrionFlyer]

Actually according to the service changes, it's suppose to go to 16th and Eastern VIA Silver Spring Station. I don't get that..

I get it now. Its going to go on Eastern Ave then right on 16th, right on EW Hwy, right on Colesville Rd then left on Eastern Ave and end at the corner of Eastern of 16th. Its like a mini loop.

But when coming FROM Silver Spring its going to start at 16th & Eastern and then continue to Alaska. So people going into DC will have walk some extra blocks to get this bus. But people going to Silver Spring riding this bus can get off at EW Hwy & Colesville. So basically, those who are going to Silver Spring have a better advantage.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Service Changes effective 29 March 2009
Source: http://wmata.com/bus/timetables/upcoming/upcoming_changes.cfm

Metrobus service to change on Sunday, March 29, 2009

Metrobus service will change in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia on Sunday, March 29, 2009
District of Columbia

Discontinued Service

98 â€" Adams Morgan-U Street Link
The Adams Morgan and U Street areas will be served by a new DC Circulator route.

New Service

S9 â€" 16th Street Express Line
A new limited-stop route will run between McPherson Square (I and 13th streets NW) and 16th Street and Eastern Avenue NW via the Silver Spring Metro station. Special signs will mark each of the 16 bus stops served, which will be located in each direction along the route. Buses will run every ten minutes in both directions during the morning and evening rush hours. Buses will leave 16th and Eastern between 6:30 and 10 a.m. and between 3 and 6:12 p.m. Buses will leave McPherson Square between 6:36 and 9:15 a.m. and between 3 and 7 p.m.

The northbound route will run from McPherson Square via I and 16th streets, Alaska Avenue, Kalmia Road and Georgia and Eastern avenues into Maryland; then continue via 16th Street, East-West Highway, Colesville Road and around the traffic circle on 16th Street to the terminal on Eastern Avenue. The southbound route will leave the terminal on Eastern Avenue NW and continue via Georgia and Alaska avenues,16th, K, 13th and I streets to the terminal on I Street.

Route Change

90, 92, 93 â€" U Street-Garfield Line
Southbound buses that begin at U and 14th streets will be changed to leave from U and 13th Streets NW. Bus times will not change. 96 - East Capitol Street-Cardozo Line Eastbound trips that begin at U and 14th Streets NW will be changed to leave from U and 13th streets NW. Bus times will not change. These buses will be rerouted in the vicinity of Union Station to travel the regular route to Massachusetts Avenue and E Street NE, then turn right on E Street, left on North Capitol Street and right on Louisiana Avenue NW where the regular route will be resumed.

W4 - Deanwood-Alabama Avenue Line
Buses that begin at Capital Plaza will be rerouted to remain on Kenilworth Avenue and bypass the stop on the service road just north of U.S. Route 50 at Creston Street. Southbound buses will bypass the stop on the north side of East Capitol Street (east of Benning Road). Buses traveling in both directions will bypass the stop at Congress Heights Metro station but will make stops on Alabama Avenue at the station’s entrance.

Route and Schedule Change

53 - 14th Street Line
The route will be shortened to start or end at McPherson Square (I and 13th streets NW) instead of Federal Triangle. Additional trips will run northbound to 14th and Buchanan streets NW between 8 and 10 a.m., and southbound to McPherson Square between 2 and 4 p.m. The schedule also will change.

70, 71 Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line
Route 70 buses that begin or end at 9th Street and Maine Avenue SW will be shortened to begin or end at Archives, 9th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The schedule will change slightly.

L2 - Connecticut Avenue Line
New southbound trips will run weekdays during the afternoon peak hours from Chevy Chase Circle to Van Ness-UDC station via Connecticut Avenue, Van Ness Street, Reno Road, Tilden Street and Connecticut Avenue. The schedule also will change for northbound trips from Van Ness-UDC station.

Schedule Change

79 - Georgia Avenue Metro Extra Line
Six additional trips will be scheduled (three southbound and three northbound) in order to reduce crowding. Southbound buses will leave Silver Spring every 7-8 minutes between 6:20 and 8:20 a.m. Northbound buses will leave Archives every 8 minutes between 3:20 and 5:20 p.m.

S1 - 16th Street-Potomac Park Line
Four trips will be added to the weekday schedule. New southbound trips will leave 14th Street and Missouri Avenue NW at 9:07 and 9:22 a.m. New northbound trips will leave Virginia Avenue and E Street NW at 6:40 and 7:02 p.m.

S2, S4 - 16th Street Line
The weekday morning and afternoon peak hour schedules will change.
Maryland

Discontinued

Q2 - Veirs Mill Road Line
One trip discontinued. The bus that leaves Rockville Metro station at 2:06 a.m. on Friday nights going to Veirs Mill and Randolph roads.

Route Change

87 - Laurel Express Line
Buses, going to Laurel in the morning rush hour and going to Greenbelt Metro station in the afternoon rush hour, will bypass the South Laurel Park & Ride lot, and serve stops only on Rt. 197. P17, P19 - Oxon Hill-Fort Washington Line Buses, in both directions, will use the South Capitol Street ramps and serve the bus stops at M Street.

Route and Schedule Change

NH1 - National Harbor Line
Weekday service will run every 30 minutes all day long. In the evenings, service will be extended so that the last bus will leave Southern Ave Metro station at 10:39 p.m. The 10:39 p.m. bus also will serve the employee entrance at the rear of the Gaylord National Resort. The last bus from National Harbor also will serve the employee entrance at approximately 11 p.m., and leave St. George Boulevard and Waterfront Street at 11:05 p.m. The change in the departure time will allow customers to easily transfer at Southern Ave Metro station to the last Green Line train going to Greenbelt station (11:37 p.m. Sunday-Thursday nights).

W13, W14 â€" Bock Road Line
Buses will use the ramps to and from M Street (at South Capitol Street) to serve bus stops
at that intersection. The W14 bus that leaves Anacostia Metro station at 2:14 p.m. will be
changed to leave at 2:19 p.m. The W14 bus that leaves Friendly at 2:54 p.m. will be changed to
leave that location at 2:59 p.m.

Schedule Change

V15 â€" District Heights-Seat Pleasant Line
The Saturday schedule will change to improve transfers between buses at the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant station.
Virginia

Schedule Change

10B â€" Hunting Towers-Ballston Line
The bus that leave Ballston-MU station weekdays at 9:59 p.m. going to Hunting Towers will be changed to leave at 10:02 p.m. to improve transfer connections with the eastbound 23A bus
that passes the station at 9:59 p.m.

23A â€" McLean-Crystal City Line
The bus that leaves Tysons-Westpark weekdays at 9:23 p.m. will be changed to leave that
location at 9:21 p.m. This change should improve transfer connections with the southbound 10B
bus that leaves Ballston-MU station at 10:02 p.m.

REX â€" Richmond Highway Express
The weekday morning and afternoon peak hour
schedules will change. Buses will be adjusted to
leave and arrive at King Street Metro station by
up to five minutes.