“American Recovery Plan helps Metro avert service cuts and layoffs” also “Metrobus to expand service on weekdays, restore additional routes on weekends effective March 14”

Photo by Victoria Pickering

From WMATA:

“Metro expects to avert service cuts and layoffs that had been proposed in its FY22 budget thanks to new federal relief approved by Congress.

“Congress has once again stepped up to address the needs of Metro and the regional transit systems that will be critical to our region’s economic recovery,” said Metro Board of Directors Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “While it will take more time to work out all the details, including Metro’s exact share of this funding, the $1.4 billion provided by the American Recovery Plan for our region’s transit agencies will allow us to avert the painful service reductions and layoffs that were on the table.”

Smedberg continued, “More than 18,000 individuals have provided Metro’s Board of Directors with feedback on our FY22 budget, and that feedback is enormously helpful as we plan for the future. We will continue the public comment period – including virtual public hearings – through March 16, and we expect to vote on a revised FY22 budget in April that takes into consideration this new federal relief.”

Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said, “This relief is only possible thanks to the leadership of our entire congressional delegation, who fought tirelessly for transit workers and riders.”

also from WMATA:

“Beginning Sunday, March 14, Metrobus riders will see more service every day of the week as bus ridership continues to outpace rail during the pandemic’s recovery. Changes will be implemented on 59 Metrobus routes serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, offering improved service, enhancing reliability, and helping to alleviate crowding.

Since the pandemic began, demand on Metrobus has gradually increased as the system continues to provide service to essential workers and transit dependent customers across the region. Over the past month, weekday and weekend Metrobus ridership on average was about 40 percent (143,000 trips) and 50 percent (83,000 trips) of pre-pandemic levels, respectively.

Given the ridership demand, Metrobus will increase service to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels. More service and supplemental buses will be added for customers on 18 of the busiest routes, including six that will resume normal peak and off-peak service. Customers on the weekends will have more options, too, with the restoration of service on 12 routes. Meanwhile, service adjustments will be implemented on 29 other routes to adjust for traffic and improve reliability.

In addition to the service changes, further management actions will be implemented to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, including the consolidation of bus operations and services from West Ox to the Four Mile Run Bus Garage. The temporary closure of the West Ox facility will allow Metro to streamline operations and preserve limited resources, saving costs without impacting service to customers.

Metrobus plans additional service changes in June that will increase service and capacity as more people return to work, more businesses reopen, and the region recovers from the pandemic.

Customers may view a detailed list of bus service changes and routes not operating. For additional information check timetables on wmata.com.

Service information, effective Sunday, March 14:

Additional service will be provided and service restored on the following routes (check timetables for schedule information):

Weekday

Service restored to pre-pandemic levels

DC – H8, U5, U6, V7, V8
VA – 28A

Trips or supplemental buses added to reduce crowding

DC – 54, 70, 79, 92
MD – F4, P12, T18, C2
VA – 1A, 16E, Metroway, REX

Weekend

Service restored

DC – D2, E2, G2, M6, X8
MD – NH2, C14*, R12*, Z6*, H12, T14, V12

*Routes operate Saturday only, as scheduled prior to the pandemic. All other routes will operate Saturday and Sunday.

Service adjustments will be implemented to improve reliability on the following routes (check timetables for schedule information):

DC – 30N, 30S, 31, 33, 32, 36, 80, B2, D6, P6, 52, 90, 96, S2, S9, X2
MD – 89M, A12, D12, D13, D14, C4, C29, Z7
VA – 2B, 10A, 22A 38B, TAGS

As of January 4, 2021, TAGS service (Routes S80 and S91) is being operated by Fairfax Connector. The new Connector service is named 350/TAGS and 351/TAGS.”