# Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)

Metrobus is a bus service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Its fleet consists of 1,595 buses covering an area of 1,500 square miles (3,900 km$^2$) in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. There are 269 bus routes serving 11,129 stops, including 2,554 bus shelters. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 116,491,700, or about 393,800 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

## History

Metrobus was founded on February 4, 1973, after acquiring DC Transit, Washington, Virginia and Maryland Coach Company (WV&M), Alexandria, Barcroft and Washington Transit Company (AB&W) and the Washington Marlboro and Annapolis Motor Lines (WM&A) to combine into Metrobus. During its founding, WMATA dropped transfer charges, extended senior citizen discounts region-wide and began fare reductions on routes formerly served by the different carriers at different rates. WMATA also unified a new bus livery with red, white and blue paint scheme and purchased 620 buses from AM General with the last buses being delivered in 1974. Today, Metrobus serves the nation's capital 24/7, with over 1,500 buses.

## Fares

As of June 30, 2024, the Metrobus fare structure is as follows for cash and SmarTrip:
* Local bus routes within the District of Columbia, Central Maryland and Northern Virginia: $2.25
* Express bus routes (17B, 17G, 17K, 17L, 17M, 18G, and 18P): $4.80
The 5A and B30 Airport Express routes were $7.50 before their discontinuation.
Discounts are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities and D.C. students.
Up to two children, per paying adult, under 5 years of age ride for free. Children at least 5 years of age pay adult fare.
All Metrobuses have SmarTrip card readers which automatically deduct the correct fare from a rider's SmarTrip card (including transfer credit).
Metrobus issued paper transfers until January 4, 2009. Transfers are now currently attainable only through SmarTrip cards.
On June 27, 2010, the transfer window was reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours.
All fares were free from mid-March 2020 to January 3, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 6, 2022, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to abolish fares within city limits from July 1, 2023. The District has continued to delayed its fare-free service due to its inability to fund the program and opposition from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland, and Virginia.

## Fleet

On February 6, 2025, New Flyer announced a significant contract with WMATA for up to 500 buses, order consist of a mix between diesel-electric hybrid and zero-emission (ZEBs) battery electric transit buses. These new buses will replace Metro's older New Flyer Low Floor buses, which were delivered between 2006 and 2010. Red/Silver painted buses will be used on local routes and Blue/Silver buses will be used on limited stop routes. These buses will have either Local or MetroExtra on the top of each side of the bus for easy identification.
In 2020, WMATA received $4.1 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration for the purchase of electric buses and charging infrastructure. A Sierra Club report indicated that a pilot study with 14 electric buses was planned, and estimated that 50% electrification would reduce the WMATA fleet's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 58,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO$_2$) per year.

## Divisions

There are 9 divisions (a.k.a. depots) in the Metrobus system.
| Division | Location | Areas served | Capacity | Notes |
| Andrews Federal Center | 38°49′46″N 76°52′56″W﻿ / ﻿38.829570°N 76.882310°W﻿ / 38.829570; -76.882310 | Southwest DC, Prince George's County | 175 | Opened June 23, 2019 |
| Bladensburg | 38°55′23″N 76°58′12″W﻿ / ﻿38.922930°N 76.970020°W﻿ / 38.922930; -76.970020 | Northeast and Southeast DC | 257 | Plans to be rebuilt. |
| Cinder Bed Road | 38°44′35″N 77°10′59″W﻿ / ﻿38.743190°N 77.183030°W﻿ / 38.743190; -77.183030 | Fairfax County | 160 | Opened December 30, 2018 Was contracted by TransDev from opening until December 26, 2021. |
| Four Mile Run | 38°50′35″N 77°03′13″W﻿ / ﻿38.843040°N 77.053700°W﻿ / 38.843040; -77.053700 | Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria | 218 | |
| Landover | 38°56′10″N 76°52′31″W﻿ / ﻿38.936230°N 76.875320°W﻿ / 38.936230; -76.875320 | Prince George's County | 210 | |
| Montgomery | 39°02′51″N 77°06′33″W﻿ / ﻿39.047630°N 77.109230°W﻿ / 39.047630; -77.109230 | Montgomery County | 240 | |
| Shepherd Parkway | 38°48′54″N 77°01′02″W﻿ / ﻿38.815040°N 77.017170°W﻿ / 38.815040; -77.017170 | Southeast and Southwest DC, Prince George's County | 250 | Opened in 2012, to be converted into a CNG garage. Currently undergoing modifications to hold electric buses. |
| Western | 38°57′31″N 77°05′08″W﻿ / ﻿38.958530°N 77.085510°W﻿ / 38.958530; -77.085510 | Northwest DC | 138 | |

### Closed depots

| Division | Location | Areas served | Capacity | Notes |
| Arlington | 38°52′41″N 77°06′32″W﻿ / ﻿38.878120°N 77.108963°W﻿ / 38.878120; -77.108963 | Arlington County, Fairfax County | | Closed in 2009, replaced by West Ox Division |
| Northern | 38°56′49″N 77°01′57″W﻿ / ﻿38.946860°N 77.032380°W﻿ / 38.946860; -77.032380 | Northwest DC | 175 | Former trolley barn for the Capital Traction Company; closed June 23, 2019 due to structural issues, planned to be rebuilt |
| Southeastern | 38°52′34″N 77°00′28″W﻿ / ﻿38.876080°N 77.007870°W﻿ / 38.876080; -77.007870 | Southeast and Southwest DC | | Closed in 2008; operations moved to Southern Avenue until the Shepherd Parkway Division opened in 2012 |
| Southern Avenue Annex | 38°52′22″N 76°55′55″W﻿ / ﻿38.872710°N 76.931990°W﻿ / 38.872710; -76.931990 | Southeast DC, Prince George's County | 103 | Operates Weekdays only, formerly known as "Prince George's" Division up until 1989 Closed in 2024 due to structural issues. |
| Royal Street | 38°48′39″N 77°02′34″W﻿ / ﻿38.810950°N 77.042800°W﻿ / 38.810950; -77.042800 | Fairfax County, City of Alexandria | 83 | Closed in 2014, Replaced by the Cinder Bed Division; Demolished in January 2020. |
| West Ox | 38°51′10″N 77°22′22″W﻿ / ﻿38.852840°N 77.372760°W﻿ / 38.852840; -77.372760 | Arlington County, Fairfax County | 100 | Operated Weekdays only, shared with Fairfax Connector. Temporarily closed on March 14, 2021; All operations were moved to Four Mile Run Division. |

## Routes
### Numbering

Most Metrobus routes follow the rules below:
* Metrobus routes in Washington, D.C. have either a two digit number (31, 42, 64, etc.) or a letter followed by a number (A2, S2, X8, etc.)
* Metrobus routes in Montgomery County, MD have a letter followed by a number (C4, Q4, Z6, etc.)
* Metrobus routes in Prince George's County, MD have a letter followed by two numbers (F12, J12, P12, etc.)
* Metrobus routes in Northern Virginia have one or two numbers followed by a letter (1A, 16C, 29N, etc.)
Most odd-numbered routes are typically part-time variants of even-numbered routes.

### History of route numbers

The current system of Metrobus route numbers traces its history to 1936, when the Capital Transit Company created route numbers for its network of streetcar and bus services. Streetcars were assigned two-number route numbers, and buses were assigned a letter and a number. In both cases, the first digit indicated the trunk line, and the second digit indicated the specific service. All streetcar lines were converted to buses in the 1960s, but the route numbers were retained.
When WMATA was formed in 1973, it retained many of the Capital Transit Company's route numbers. WMATA also absorbed other transit operators in the region, which had their own separate numbering systems. Some route numbers were retained, and others were slightly modified to avoid conflicts. Since the system's inception, WMATA planners have inserted new routes into the system, attempting to follow the original numbering scheme where possible. The resulting system was described by Greater Greater Washington in a 2018 analysis as "a mixed bag, with many apparent rules, most of which are occasionally broken."
WMATA proposed a comprehensive redesign of the Metrobus network in 2023, following 5 years of planning. The Better Bus Network initiative is the first full redesign of the agency's bus network in its history. As part of the Better Bus Network project, WMATA proposed a new system of route numbers, which would designate routes by the region that they operate in. The Better Bus Network was formally approved by the WMATA board of directors in November 2024, with new services to begin in June 2025.
Route numbers in the Better Bus Network plan are made up of a region prefix and a route number. Routes operating mostly in Washington, D.C. will be prefixed "C" or D." Arlington County/Alexandria, Fairfax County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County routes will be prefixed "A," "F," "M," and "P" respectively. Limited-stop routes will have the suffix "X."
For example, 16th Street Line local route S2 and limited-stop route S9 will be renumbered D62 and D6X. The single Metroway route will be renumbered A1X, and the East Capitol Street–Cardozo Line route 96 will be replaced by portions of new routes C55, C51, C57, D24, and D92.

## Special services
### MetroExtra

MetroExtra is WMATA's brand for limited-stop services. MetroExtra service began in 2007 with the introduction of route 79, a limited-stop variant of the Georgia Avenue–7th Street Line. Before the introduction of the MetroExtra brand, some limited-stop services were operated under the Metro Express, which was merged into the MetroExtra service in 2008. As of 2023, 6 MetroExtra lines are in operation.

### Metroway

Metroway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) service in Arlington and Alexandria, serving Potomac Yard. The first phase is the Crystal City/Potomac Yard Transitway, which operates on Route 1 in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. It is a 5-mile (8.0 km) corridor with 33 platforms and 20 stations located between Pentagon City and Braddock Road. The first 0.8 mile segment in Alexandria runs on a transit lane only. The Arlington County segment began construction in the summer of 2014 and opened April 17, 2016. Metroway originally operated between the Braddock Road and Crystal City stations and was expanded to Pentagon City in April 2016.

### Richmond Highway Express

The Richmond Highway Express (REX) is a limited-stop service along Richmond Highway in Fairfax County, Virginia. REX service operates between Fort Belvoir and King Street–Old Town, serving multiple destinations within Fort Belvoir, including Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center. Service began in 2004, with distinctively branded buses and stops featuring a blue-and-gold color scheme.