MetroExtra is a limited-stop service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates on Metrobus lines that need extra service with faster trips. There are six MetroExtra routes with only two of them having daily service.

MetroExtra
ParentWMATA
FoundedMarch 19, 2007; 17 years ago
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., US
LocaleWashington Metropolitan Area
Service typeExpress, limited-stop
Routes6
OperatorWMATA
ManagerRandy Clarke

History

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The service began in 2007 with an express service of the Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line, 79.[1] The route would follow its local counterpart but only serve the most important stops.

In 2008, a study was released along the 16th Street corridor to improve the line by both WMATA and the District Department of Transportation. The corridor averages a weekday ridership of 16,000 making it the third most heavily used line in the Metrobus system, Parts of the proposal were to create a new route S3 which would be shortened routes S1, S2, and S4, and create a limited stop route S9.[2] These 2 routes would then become the most popular MetroExtra routes.[3]

On September 29, 2002 route 16Y began service, the first bus route to provide service in Downtown Washington since 1983.[4] However, it didn't become a MetroExtra route until 2012 (along with route 16F).[5] When route 16X discontinued in 2018,[6] route 16Y became the only MetroExtra to operate in Virginia.

In 2015, WMATA proposed a new MetroExtra route, Q9. The route would provide limited stop service supplementing the Veirs Mill Road Line. The route would operate between Rockville station and Wheaton station and be the first Metro Extra route to operate exclusively in Montgomery County, Maryland.[7]

Fleet

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MetroExtra uses the same fleet as Metrobus. However, the buses are coated blue and have the MetroExtra logo slapped over the Metrobus logo for easier identification.[8] Some of the yellow signage has also been recolored green.

Routes

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MetroExtra routes follow the same numbering as local Metrobus routes. Although, they typically end with a 9.

  • MetroExtra routes in Washington, D.C. have either a two digit number (59, 79) or a letter followed by a 9 (S9, X9)
  • MetroExtra routes in Montgomery County, MD have a letter followed by a 9 (K9, S9, Q9)
  • MetroExtra routes exist in Prince George's County, MD but are mainly in Montgomery County or Washington, D.C. so no route follows the rule of having a letter followed by two numbers (F12, J12, P12, etc.)
  • MetroExtra routes in Northern Virginia have one or two numbers followed by a letter. Although there is only one MetroExtra route in Virginia and the only MetroExtra route to not have a 9. (16Y)
Route Terminals Streets traveled Service notes Divisions Local counterpart
59
14th Street Line

Takoma station

Federal Triangle station
  • Bladensburg

52, 54

79
Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line

Silver Spring station

Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
  • Daily service
  • Montgomery

70

16Y
Columbia Pike Line

Barcroft

McPherson Square station
  • Four Mile Run

16A, 16C, 16E
16M
3Y

K9
New Hampshire Avenue-Maryland Line

Fort Totten station

FDA
  • Montgomery

K6

S9
16th Street Line

Silver Spring station

McPherson Square station
  • Daily service

S2
D31

X9
Benning Road-H Street Line

Capitol Heights station

Gallery Place-Chinatown
  • Southern Avenue

X2
V2, V4

Former routes

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These routes have existed in the past but were discontinued. However, most local service along these routes remained.

Route Terminals Streets traveled Service notes Divisions Local counterpart
16F, 16X
Columbia Pike Line

Culmore

Federal Triangle station
  • Four Mile Run

16B, 16S

37
Wisconsin Avenue Line

Friendship Heights station

Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
  • Montgomery

31, 33

39
Pennsylvania Avenue Line

Naylor Road station

Potomac Park
  • Shepherd Parkway

32, 36
F14

A9
Anacostia-Livingston Line

Livingston

McPherson Square station
  • Martin Luther King Jr Avenue

A6, A7, A8

G9
Rhode Island Avenue Line

Mount Rainier Terminal

  • Bladensburg

G8
83, 86

J4
Bethesda-Silver Spring Line

Bethesda station

College Park-U of Md
  • Montgomery

J1, J2

W9
Anacostia-Fort Drum Line

L'Enfant Plaza station

Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building
  • Shepherd Parkway

A4

References

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  1. ^ "New MetroExtra provides faster Metrobus service along Georgia Avenue". Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Metro looks to add express bus service to 16th Street Line in D.C." Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Metrobus Ridership Summary". Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  4. ^ "This week in Metro (Monday, September 30, 2002)". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Coming soon: Less bus bunching, more MetroExtra". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Metrobus Service Changes, June 24 - WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  7. ^ "WMATA Q9 MetroExtra Service" (PDF). montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Metro begins express bus service and other improvements to 16th Street Line". Retrieved 28 January 2024.