WMATA launched its “Better Bus” project in 2022 with the stated aim of enhancing regional service by reducing wait times, increasing peak and off-peak frequency, improving connection points, and addressing service inequities in low-income and minority communities. WMATA has evaluated more than 100 bus routes across DC, Maryland and Virginia since the project’s inception. Following the release of the aspirational “Visionary Network” in spring 2023, WMATA gathered rider input through public hearings, online surveys, and interactive network comment maps for feedback on specific bus route proposals.
According to WMATA, the 2025 Network proposal reflects that feedback, and the third phase of its Better Bus initiative is now open for additional public review and feedback through July 15th. Ward 3 Council member Matt Frumin is also hosting a Zoom forum on the Better Bus plan at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9th. Register here for the link.
Metrobus is expected to begin implementing the network in summer 2025 once the WMATA board approves the final plans.
Though the bus changes will have impacts across the city, the examples below focus on bus service through and near Van Ness and Forest Hills. Click on the maps below to open larger versions and view the proposed hours and frequency of operation for each route.
D70 Chevy Chase Circle-Farragut Square
The proposed D70 bus line is set to replace the current L2 route, which connects Chevy Chase to Farragut Square via Columbia Road NW in Adams Morgan. Unlike the L2, the D70 is to operate exclusively on Connecticut Avenue between Chevy Chase Circle and Farragut Square, resembling the former L1 route that was discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, the L2 operates at 10-20 minute intervals during peak weekday hours and 20-30 minute intervals during off-peak hours and on the weekends. The new D70 is to run every 12-20 minutes during weekday peak hours and every 20-30 minutes during off-peak hours and on weekends.
D72 Van Ness-Lafayette Square
The proposed D72 between Van Ness and Lafayette Square is a realignment for the 42 and 43 bus routes which currently service Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle and Farragut Square, as well as Foggy Bottom with a final stop at the Kennedy Center.
According to WMATA’s proposal, the D72’s southbound route heads south on Connecticut Avenue and across Porter Street in Cleveland Park before heading south on Mount Pleasant Street NW. The bus turns at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Street NW and Columbia Road NW and reconnect with Connecticut Avenue for the last leg of the route.
Currently, the 42 and 43 buses run the full route every 18-24 minutes during peak weekday periods and between 30-40 minutes on non-peak weekday hours and on weekends.
For the D72 route, during rush hours and before 6 a.m., every other trip would be between Van Ness and Lafayette Square. At other times, the D72 route would operate only between Mount Pleasant and Lafayette Square. The D72 is slated to run between Mount Pleasant and Lafayette Square every 20 minutes in the early mornings, and every 6-12 minutes during weekday peak hours. The Van Ness to Lafayette Square route is to run every 12-24 minutes during weekday peak hours only, with no service during off-peak hours or on weekends.
With the proposed changes, weekend riders in Van Ness and north of Van Ness would need to transfer in Cleveland Park (C61 Tenleytown-Brookland bus route) for access to Mount Pleasant or in Woodley Park (C55 Tenleytown-LeDroit Park Route) for access to Adams Morgan.
C83 Friendship Heights-Fort Totten
In Chevy Chase, the C83 is slated to replace the E4 bus route, which currently runs from Fort Totten to Friendship Heights via Military Road NW and McKinley Street NW. The C83 continues to provide an east-west connection across Rock Creek Park but primarily via Military Road NW. According to the proposed plans, the westbound bus alters its route upon reaching Connecticut Avenue. From this point, it proceeds north on Connecticut Avenue to McKinley Street. The bus then turns onto Western Avenue, continuing its journey to Friendship Heights.
While the E4 currently runs 15-20 minutes on weekdays and around 20 minutes on weekends, the proposed C83 would run every 30 minutes during the weekday, and would not operate on the weekends.
Chevy Chase residents who left feedback on the Network Comment Map were concerned about rerouting the bus from McKinley Street NW, which passes through the neighborhood’s residential areas, to Military Road NW, which is on the neighborhood’s periphery. In the proposed 2025 Network, WMATA added another crosstown bus route (C81, see below) along Military Road NW with the goal of increasing transfer opportunities and frequency.
C81 Sibley Hospital-Fort Totten
The C81 is expected to replace the E4, the Military Road-Crosstown line which runs between Fort Totten and Friendship Heights via Rock Creek Park and McKinley Street NW, and the M4, the Nebraska Avenue line which runs between the Knollwood Retirement Community and Sibley Hospital via Nebraska Avenue and passes through Chevy Chase and Tenleytown. According to the proposed changes, the C81’s westbound route traverses Rock Creek Park via Military Road NW before turning left on Nebraska Avenue. The bus passes Tenleytown and American University before connecting to Loughborough Rd NW, and terminates at Sibley Hospital.
The E4 currently runs 15-20 minutes on weekdays and around 20 minutes on weekends. The M4 runs every 15-30 minutes Monday through Friday but does not run on the weekends.
The C81 is expected to run every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. It shares a portion of its route with the C83 on Military Road NW. The overlapping routes are expected to provide service every 20 minutes or less between Military Road NW and Kennedy Street NW on the east side of the park. However, the segment between Military Road and Nebraska Avenue NW, extending to Sibley, has less frequent service. With only one line (C81) serving this stretch, buses are expected to run at 30-minute intervals.
C87 Van Ness-Silver Spring
The C87 is slated to replace the D31, a limited-service line which operates only when DC Public Schools are in session, and primarily serves students traveling to and from Jackson-Reed High School and Deal Middle School. The C87 Metrobus route between Silver Spring and Van Ness (via 16th Street NW, Nebraska Avenue and Tenleytown) is to operate during peak hours on weekdays with 20 minutes headways in each direction. The bus terminates at the Van Ness-UDC Metro station via Van Ness Street NW.
According to the Better Bus Network Redesign Phase 1 Engagement Summary, a compilation of feedback on the initial Better Bus Network proposals, the C87 route was developed as a new commuter route based on riders’ lamenting the lack of service on Van Ness Street NW between Tenleytown and Van Ness.
C85 Barnaby Woods-Foggy Bottom
The C85 is a newly proposed route that incorporates elements of the existing M4 line. It start nears the Knollwood Retirement Community and passes through Forest Hills and Tenleytown via Nebraska Avenue to Ward Circle. The southbound journey follows Massachusetts Avenue to Cathedral Avenue, then proceeds through Glover Park via New Mexico Avenue NW and Tunlaw Road. The route continues through the Palisades neighborhood on MacArthur Boulevard, terminating at Foggy Bottom. This new service is to operate on weekdays only. During peak hours, the C85 runs every 30 minutes between Barnaby Woods and Foggy Bottom. Off-peak service maintains the 30-minute frequency, but operates only between Barnaby Woods and Tenleytown.
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Steven Miller says
What bus will service the Kennedy Center after the 42 and 43 are replaced?
D'Oniece Dillard says
We really need a crosstown bus on the weekends. Not having an E4 (or whatever they’re calling it) on Saturday and Sunday will be a BIG inconvenience for those of us who don’t have cars and rely on public transportation.
Marlene Berlin, Co-editor says
You can share your feedback to the changes described in our post here: https://betterbus.wmata.com/.
RS says
All of the changes proposed that effectively reroute / reschedule the E4 and M4 are detrimental for people who not only live in this community but also work, shop, and fulfill other daily activities – like medical appointments, accessing services at the library and community center, and going to the post office. I feel like the planners of this routes have zero context for the communities, the riders, and what areas the bus actually services. This is a terrible proposal that doesn’t address the actual concerns bus riders have made for years: providing an accurate real-time, GPS based bus tracking system AND doing a simple audit of bus routes to eliminate unnecessary and too close stops. The E4 suffers from this issue – some stops are 400ft from one another – which creates delays when the bus ends up needing to stop at every single stop to let on or off a single person.
It’s even more baffling that WMATA would embark on this proposal now given the issues they have with funding. Has WMATA said how much this rework is going to cost? All signage will have to be replaced – and in many cases because the route has now changed, there will need to be sidewalks torn up to sink new signage posts into, bus shelters relocated, the entire system being reprogrammed online – not to mention the massive marketing campaign needed to help riders who already know the system figure out where to go. I’m not against updating the system when and where it needs it but it seems misguided to just scrap the entire network and start from scratch.