An express bus line from downtown to Mount Rainier is one step closer to reality

Neighborhoods around Rhode Island Avenue NE were built to depend on transit. A new express bus, the G9, is one step closer to running along the corridor, from downtown to Mount Rainier.

WMATA first proposed the G9 in 2014, after studying the way transit use was changing along Rhode Island Avenue into Prince George’s County. The DC Council made a huge push toward making the line a reality Tuesday night, with a unanimous first vote for a FY17 budget that includes $1.04 million for the G9.

“The proposed G9 bus line will service Rhode Island Avenue from 14th Street NW to just beyond the District’s border at Eastern Ave NE, thereby filling that gap and alleviating congestion on the G8 and other bus lines that offer partial service to the Rhode Island Avenue NE corridor,” said Ward 5 councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.

Here’s a full map of the planned route:

This is extremely welcome news to residents of the Rhode Island Avenue corridor, who are looking at an almost one-month shutdown of their portion of the Red Line during SafeTrack.

As of press time, neither WMATA nor McDuffie’s office had responded to questions about when, exactly, residents can expect the G9 to start running. We’ll update the post as soon as we hear back.

But for now, let’s take a moment to celebrate this bit of good transit news — it’s a welcome bit of sunshine on a rainy horizon.

Popping bottles in the ice, like a blizzard

When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard

Sippin sizzurp in my ride, like Three 6 689

Now I’m feeling so fly like a G6 G9

Like a G6 G9, Like a G6 G9

Now I’m feeling so fly like a G6 G9

Like a G6 G9, Like a G6 G9

Now I’m feeling so fly like a G6 G9