What to know about the changes coming to Metrobus this summer
In case you haven't heard: Hundreds of stops are being removed, bus lines are being renamed, and routes are being reworked.
D.C. commuters, take note: Changes are coming to your bus route.
Beginning June 29, 2025, all Metrobus routes will be renamed—and many will alter their routes— as part of a network overhaul that officials say will make the bus system easier, faster and more reliable.
The redesign comes more than two years after the Better Bus project was announced. It’s the first major attempt at revamping WMATA’s 50-year-old Metrobus system, and the updates will include new route names, removed stops and more.
Metro planners say nearly 45,000 residents weighed in during the two-year public engagement process. The D.C. Metro Board of Directors voted to approve the final plan last November.
“The DMV region has evolved over time and so should our bus network,” Metro Board Chair Valerie Santos said in a press release at the time. “Better Bus will improve our operating efficiency, enhance connectivity and increase Metro’s environmental benefits.”
Metrobus ridership has rebounded faster than rail and most other U.S. public transit systems from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Metrobus ridership exceeded Metrorail by about 6.7 million riders and accounted for 53% of all Metro ridership.
If you're taking any of Metrobus’s roughly 123 million yearly trips, keep reading to find out what you need to know about the upcoming changes.
What changes is WMATA making, exactly?
New Bus Names: Every route is being renamed to bring consistency to a patchwork system inherited from private operators decades ago. In fact, many of today’s route names date back to old streetcar lines that no longer exist.
- The new route names will begin with a letter to indicate the area served:
- A for Arlington/Alexandria
- C or D for D.C.
- F for Fairfax City, Fairfax County and Falls Church
- M for Montgomery County
- P for Prince George's County
- The second character will have a number representing the neighborhood or corridor.
- A third character will contain another number, or—if needed—an "X" to denote express, limited-stop routes.
Bus stop removals: About 500 stops, or 5% of the Metrobus network, will be eliminated by the June 29 deadline. Better Bus planners said they prioritized stops that were 660 feet apart or less. Ridership and safe access for customers were assessed next. The idea is that consolidated stops will make routes faster and more reliable.
New routes: Some bus routes will be added or restructured under the new plan. For example, the new C63 route will connect Deanwood to Brookland and Washington Hospital Center via public transit, cutting the hourlong rail journey in half. The current H6 bus serves a similar route, but stops short at Fort Lincoln.
Are all bus stops changing their schedules?
No, not every route will see a significant schedule or route change. However, some routes that aren’t changing could see more frequent service (e.g., every 12-20 minutes) and extended hours, especially during evenings and weekends.
The current 70 and 79 buses on Georgia Ave., for example, will be renamed D40 and D4X and see some increased service on weekends.
When do the changes begin?
New bus names and routes will go into effect on June 29, 2025.
Will my bus stop change?
Possibly. Only 5% of stops will be removed, but most will remain the same. If your bus stop is removed, you may still find yourself within a quarter mile of another stop.
Metro service guidelines recommend 4-5 stops per mile on most routes. By consolidating closely spaced stops, planners have tried to keep service accessible while also making it faster. Overall, WMATA estimates that 99% of passengers who live within a quarter mile of a bus stop will still be within a quarter mile of a bus stop.
However, not everyone is happy with these changes: Some residents who live near eliminated bus stops say the new system will make it harder for them to get around. See below for some arguments for and against parts of the Better Bus Redesign.
How can I wrap my head around the full list of changes?
Allison Davis, WMATA’s Senior Vice President of Planning, will be the first to tell you not to try to absorb the entire map in one sitting. “I haven’t even digested the entire map yet,” she said. “You really want to take it trip by trip—route by route.”
Zoom in. View each route individually using the links below:
District of Columbia Bus Routes
If you are a bit more ambitious, you can take a look at the bigger picture here:
District of Columbia Bus Service Map
Of course, there are other notification plans in place, too. Metrobus riders may have already noticed some changes as the first phase of the Better Bus redesign began earlier this spring with the rollout of new bus stop signs. In total, about 7,000 bus stop signs will be replaced by Metro crews this spring to reflect the updates.
Will mobile apps be updated?
Apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Citymapper may not reflect the changes by June 29. Until then, your best bet is WMATA’s trip planner. The recently updated website allows you to plan your new bus route before launch day.
Will the redesign benefit most riders?
That’s the idea.
About 24% of work commutes that start or end in D.C. rely on Metrobus, according to WMATA. That number may be rising as return-to-office mandates increase ridership post-pandemic.
“Our real goal was to connect people to where they need to go,” said Peter Cafiero, WMATA’s vice president of service planning and scheduling. “One of the big measures we used for that was jobs.”
During the morning rush hour, Metro estimates 12,000 additional jobs will be reachable within 60 minutes; 146,000 customers will also gain access to evening service seven days a week.
Like many public bus systems, Metrobus tends to serve low-income passengers who are more likely to work essential or service jobs beyond traditional hours or Metrorail boundaries. The Better Bus redesign should expand access for these riders, particularly those living in equity-focus communities (EFCs) like Wards 7 and 8.
WMATA projects that the changes will connect 14,000 EFC residents with more frequent bus service during the morning rush. That includes greater access to essential services, restaurants and other service industry jobs—key employment sectors and places of interest for many of the system’s core riders.
Does the redesign affect any riders negatively? Has there been resident pushback?
Some residents in Ward 8’s Bellevue community have urged WMATA to reconsider changes there. In an open letter to DDOT and WMATA in April, Bellevue resident Patrice Lancaster asked the agencies to reverse plans to consolidate a number of bus stops in the area. Lancaster said the removal of stops would create a “transit desert” in certain areas and present potential safety concerns for people who would have to walk further in the early morning or late night hours to catch a bus.
The letter seemed to work—Lancaster said she was notified shortly afterward that the stop closest to her home would no longer be removed. But she says the situation reflects a larger issue: lack of transparency from WMATA and not enough community engagement.
“We acknowledge that WMATA undertook a multi-year outreach process citywide for the bus network redesign. However, it appears that the specific concerns of Bellevue have not been heard or addressed in a meaningful way,” Lancaster wrote. “No major transit service changes should proceed in ANC 8D without first engaging the very residents who depend on those services.”
Some people’s commute times could increase with the new routes. Residents have complained of reduced access to Takoma along the 14th St line; changes along the P6 route; and—of course—the loss of the beloved Circulator throughout D.C. and around the National Mall.
If you’re one of the unlucky customers whose commute actually got longer, try using WMATA’s trip planner to get familiar with your new route and schedule before June 29. It may help you avoid surprises and even uncover a shortcut you didn’t know existed.
You can view a collection of summarized public comments, by route, as well as the changes Metro made, if any, to the 2025 Network based on this input last summer.
Are the changes to bus routes the only part of the Better Bus program?
Nope. The 2025 changes are only one step in a multi-year effort to improve bus service through new infrastructure, zero-emission vehicles, bus lanes and more. Many of those commitments are still a work in progress.
WMATA has begun updating the Northern Bus Garage on 14th Street NW. Built in 1906 as a streetcar storage facility, the garage was closed in 2019 and will be reconstructed into a modern bus maintenance and operations facility. That project is expected to finish up in 2027 and will house a fleet of zero-emission vehicles.
To deliver on other promises, Metro must coordinate with transportation agencies, including DDOT and Maryland’s State Highway Administration, to implement dedicated bus lanes and sustainable transit infrastructure.
“We don't own the streets, right?” Davis said.
How can I offer feedback?
Although the June 29 changes are supposed to be final, customers are still encouraged to contact Metro's Office of Customer Service with feedback and questions.
“People are concerned about change,” Cafiero said, remembering the time the Better Bus team spent talking to community members and elected officials during the public engagement process. “As more people discover this, we anticipate getting more questions and concerns. We are working to make sure we have tools that people can use to plan their trips before this all happens.”
