Routes Of Years Past

[WES]

Remember the T6, loved riding the Q4, well they are still running as RIDE ON's 42/46 and 48 respectively, but there are other routes that are completely gone, like the A13, A15, N7, N9, 60, 6.  Many were gone due to low ridership or turned over to the local gubments or even replaced somewhat by metrorail.  I have a few of these schedules from years past, but better yet I remember riding a lot of these routes as well as some of the other guys that grew up in the DC area.  A few of the old routes that I road were as follows.

Q4-Even though this is now the Ride On 48, this route was pretty cool, and still is pretty cool to ride.

T6-If this route ran WMATA might have had to buy more artics as this route had some crowds on it.

18A-This was the route where I first got a ride on an 8V new look.  Surprising I caught it at Landmark.  How funny is that?

The old C2-As it is now, packed as hell back then.  Up to the 92s at least, this route had some of the newer equipment (at least what I always saw anyway).  One long a** route too.

I am sure others got some memories of these long bygone routes.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I remember taking the 5B when it was still running out to Tysons. It was a nice quick ride from Rosslyn out to the mall. If only it were that easy to get out there now. Metro Center still had schedules for it even this year after it was discontinued a couple years ago or so.

[Perry]

Let's see:

R4: Calverton to Crystal City.  I remember riding that one as a youngin
J8: Beltway Plaza to Wheaton Plaza.  Rode this one to death before the C2 was extended from Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza.  Back then they wanted the bus to bypass PG Plaza and head straight down Univ. Blvd. as it does now, but a lot of civic associations including one my dad was involved with persuaded the board otherwise and maintained that service.
Q8: Montgomery Mall to Silver Spring
R2: Brookland to Calverton with short turns at PG Plaza
R6: Brookland to Lewisdale
R7: Brookland to Highview peak hours only
F9: Lewisdale to DC via Riggs Road.  I remember my dad taking this bus a lot
M6: Rosslyn to Union Station. Now pretty much the 38B.  I rode this a bit when my mom worked in Rosslyn in the late 70's.
D everything to Sibley Hospital.  I think literally every D line ran out there at some point.
J2/4: Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza
C8: Aspen Hill to Montgomery Mall
C6: Montgomery College to Aspen Hill

Oh man I could go on and on, the memories!!

[Perry]

I also forgot some fairly recent ones:

C18 Branch Ave. to Waldorf.  Neat that it even ran on Saturdays
B11: Rosslyn to Bethesda.  That route was doomed from the beginning though.  Never had that much ridership.  Nice try though.

[WayneNYC]

Since I've been in the area only since late '96, I don't remember many.  I do recall the C18 in it's last days with Orion VIs.  Also as Perry mentioned the B11 running nearly empty.  I used to see it regularly on my drive home from work.  Other than those I'd have to say the 14's (Smartmover).  It was cool when Montgomery had those Smartmover 4400 series Orion Vs.

[Perry]

The time the crew went on the C18 we had 9834 I think.

[Scrabbleship]

That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?

[WayneNYC]

That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?

I think the unpredictable 14th Street bridge would make such a route very unreliable.

[Scrabbleship]

That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?

I think the unpredictable 14th Street bridge would make such a route very unreliable.

I had meant more like the B11, C18, Smartmover, old M6, J2 east of Silver Spring, T6, Q4 etc.

[WayneNYC]

I can't really speak on the others, but it's too bad the Smartmover buses couldn't be saved and allowed to use the I-495 shoulder in VA.  The old N7/9 must've been fun rides.  I drive over much of those routes on the Clara Barton and Canal Road to/from work.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

B11 failed because it was a reverse peak directional service during rush hours only.  I think it could have potential if it ran at least 6 AM to 7 PM in both directions on weekdays, and weekend service couldn't hurt.  It would probably need to be just Friendship Heights to Rosslyn, with the route extended up to Medical Center in the peak hours.

The SmartMover failed because VA wouldn't allow it to use the beltway shoulders, whereas Maryland did.  As a result, you had a choice between sitting in traffic on the bus, or sitting in traffic in your own car.  Most people chose the latter option.

[Scrabbleship]

I can't really speak on the others, but it's too bad the Smartmover buses couldn't be saved and allowed to use the I-495 shoulder in VA.  The old N7/9 must've been fun rides.  I drive over much of those routes on the Clara Barton and Canal Road to/from work.

Isn't Virginia trying to pass legislation to allow buses on shoulders? If it passes, would it be wise to bring the Smartmover back, if anything as a basic shuttle from the Red Line?

[Perry]

The C18 could, but actually the MTA I believe has a route that pretty much does that now during peak times. 

Some of the other routes were local and I don't think they would work.  It would be nice if one of the 30s was extended to Rosslyn as Wes has advocated for.  I always thought a 38A that went across Whitehurst then down K would be a nice 'express' type route bypassing Georgetown.

[rideonrulez]

The time the crew went on the C18 we had 9834 I think.

LOL I remember when we did a trip on the C18. The weird thing is I literally just saw 9834 on the Q2 this morning!

[Tristan]

I caught a ride on the N11/13 before it was cut...interesting concept and I think it would work well on the new Wilson Bridge, maybe stopping at National Harbor to keep it in demand :-)