An express bus from Mount Rainier to downtown starts picking up passengers in March
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A zoomed-in look at the flyer from Kenyan McDuffie's office that told residents about the new express bus service. Image by Office of Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.
Last May, the DC Council approved funding for the G9, an express bus line along the Rhode Island Avenue corridor. According to a WMATA spokesperson, the line, which will run from Mount Rainier in Prince George's County to downtown DC, will begin service on March 20th.
Earlier this week, DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie's office handed out flyers and posted on his Facebook page to let people know about the G9 running “through the heart of Ward 5.” More specifically, it will go from just east of Eastern Avenue to Franklin Square. The idea for the new route has been around since at least 2014.
A map of the coming G9 route. For details, click the map and go to page 25 of the WMATA report. Image by WMATA.
The line will complement the G8 route, running through a rapidly-growing part of the District. WMATA has increased capacity on the G8 in recent years, but rush-hour buses can still be very crowded. The G9 will run every 15 minutes and only during rush hours (from 6 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm, Monday through Friday).
Metro points out that service will run both directions during those hours, unlike some other routes that only run one direction during peak hours. The agency is in the process of developing printable timetables and maps.