WMATA's new visionary bus network design could add Tysons-to-Bethesda route, among others
WASHINGTON (7News) — A new project from WMATA could soon re-imagine your daily commute.
Metro is drafting a re-design of the D.C. Metrobus system with the potential for 24-hour routes, including a connection between Tysons and Bethesda.
Metro’s managing director of bus and rail service planning Peter Cafiero says their new “bus roadmap” includes expanding from 36 routes to about 100 that would operate every 20 minutes or less, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
“Sometimes to get people to really engage you need to start with something, an idea buses run where Metrorail doesn’t," Cafiero said.
Metro launched an interactive trip planner where you can see your current route options and compare them to possible routes that Metro could one day add.
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“We have looked at a lot of data, ridden a lot of buses but we need the help of riders and potential riders in developing this,” Cafiero said.
Montgomery County Council Vice President Andrew Friedson also thinks the proposed bus network could have a ripple effect.
“Increasingly our workforce used to work either in Montgomery County or downtown D.C. and more and more we are seeing people live in certain parts of this region and work in others,” Friedson said.
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He added, “Having better alternative for residents to get from Bethesda to northern Virginia or vice versa will be a boon to our businesses.”
If Metro’s board of directors approves, they tell us changes could be made as early as 2024.
Metro tells 7news comments and input on their new bus network plans are accepted until June 5th.
