Community Corner

Metrobus Seeks Thoughts on Baltimore Avenue Lines

How can Metrobus improve service along Baltimore and Rhode Island avenues?

By Michael Theis

This week, Metrobus will be gathering feedback from riders about bus transit service along the Baltimore Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue corridors in Maryland andWashington, DC. 

The study, a partnership between Metro, Prince George's County and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, will be studying service on the 81, 82, 8384 86G8 and T18 lines.

"Combined, these routes have one of the highest riderships in the Metrobus system, but the line has some service and operational issues that need to be evaluated and fixed to provide a better experience for riders," according to Metro. "As the study progresses, specific challenges facing the line will be identified and potential solutions will be recommended."

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The DC-based Friends of Rhode Island Avenue, NE, which has been tracking development along the corridor, hopes that study will lay the groundwork for a transit strategy to serve a corridor which is experiencing a development boom on both sides of the border.  

"Currently, there are no Rhode Island Avenue NE bus lines that travel between downtown DC and along Baltimore Avenue in Maryland. To get from a location such as the new apartments in Hyattsville to downtown DC, a commuter using public transportation cannot simply take a bus down what appears to be a very direct route to DC," reads a post on FriendsofRIA.org. "What could be a simple 20-30 minute bus ride ends up taking up to an hour and a half, depending on the mode of commute. As development in Mt. Rainier, Hyattsville, and College Park increases, it is critical to have smart options available for commuters to reduce the number of cars being added to the roads."

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The Metrobus study will be conducted on Tuesday, July 16. According to FriendsofRIA.org, surveys will be placed on buses along each of the survey routes, and staff will be handing out surveys at the College Park, Brookland, New Carrollton Metro Stations and the Rhode Island and 34th Street transit center in Mount Rainier. 

Others can take an online version of the survey, which can befound here on Metrobus-Studies.com.


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