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Unofficial Guide to Metrobus

Many visitors to the Washington area use Metrorail, the subway system. Another service that many visitors might find useful is Metrobus, the bus system also run by WMATA, the main DC-area transit agency. Metrobus goes to several places not served by the subway, including Georgetown, Adams-Morgan, and the National Cathedral. It's generally safe, clean, and convenient, but now as well-known as the subway.

The Metrobus system can trace its heritage over a hundred years. Many of the busiest routes were formerly served by streetcars, the last of which ended service in 1962, on the order of Congress. Many of these former streetcar routes are also routes tourists would find useful, and can normally be identified with the use of two digit number, as opposed to a number-letter combination.

Below is a list of bus routes. On each page is a line map of the route, with major neighborhoods and Metrorail stations and transfers to other routes. The frequency on most of the lines listed below is at least one bus every 15 minutes; buses run from about 5:30am to 12:00pm, with service until 3:00am the next morning on Friday and Saturday. Fares are $1.20, with a free transfer to other buses. A few buses are marked as express, including those that serve Dulles and BWI airports; these cost $2.50. If you board a Metrorail station, you can get a transfer from the station of origin that reduces the fair to 35¢ ($1.65 express). A bus day pass is also available for $3.00 that is seperate from the Metrorail $6.00 day pass. Again, express routes require extra payment over a day pass.

Route Areas Served
30'sWisconsin Ave., Georgetown, Capitol Hill, SE
42Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasent
70Silver Spring, Georgia Ave/7th St. NW, SW Waterfront
D'sGeorgetown, Dupont Circle, Union Station, NE
N'sMassachusettes Ave. NW, Dupont Circle, downtown

Airport Buses
5'sL'Enfant Plaza, Rosslyn, Tyson's Corner, Dulles Airport
B30Greenbelt, BWI Airport


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