Better Bus Network Redesign Roadmap

LAUNCH PARTY, April 21, 2023

Launch Party! • THEARC in SE D.C. • April 21, 3:00-7:00 p.m.

1901 Mississippi Ave SE
Suite #101
Washington, DC 20020
MAIN OFFICE: 202.889.5901

What Is the Better Bus Initiative?

For the first time in decades, we're taking a fresh and detailed look at our bus service and routes to serve you better. The Better Bus initiative will create a fast, frequent, and reliable bus network that is easier to understand.  Read more

Buses keep our region moving, providing more than 500,000 trips each day. Better Bus is an initiative to rethink, redesign, and revitalize bus service to better serve the needs of customers in the region. Through a network redesign, we're taking a fresh and detailed look at our bus service and routes to serve you better.

The redesign effort will consider where, when, and how people travel in the region and result in a new network that better serves our communities, including the needs of essential workers. This process will also coordinate service with bus priority investments-like bus lanes and transit signal priority-across the region.

This project is the region's first comprehensive redesign of the entire Metrobus network since its creation in 1973. As part of the effort, Metro will also support partner agencies in Prince George's County (TheBus) and the City of Fairfax (CUE) in redesigning their local bus networks. It's an opportunity to:

• Keep up with our changing region and the people that live and work here.
• Better connect people to where they need to go. About half of our region lacks access to frequent transit service.
• Promote equity, inclusiveness, and access to opportunity. 
• Create a network that is easy to use no matter where you are.

The network redesign puts customers at the forefront. We will use data-driven analysis and a robust, interactive public engagement process to evaluate and make changes to Metrobus service. Throughout the process, we want to hear from customers and communities across the region.

We've broken up the project into three phases to ensure we are collaborating with customers and the community at key points of the process.

• Phase 1 - Gather & Analyze Data and Set Goals & Priorities | Fall 2022
• Phase 2 - Develop Network Options | Spring 2023
• Phase 3 - Draft Short-Term & Long-Term Networks and Finalize | Fall 2023
• Implementation | Starting in 2024

Community Connections Committee (LWV has a representative on this committee)

• CCC will have an opportunity to preview the Visionary Network in early April, prior to public launch on April 21

• Open for Comment: April 17, 2023 – June 5, 2023

• In-person launch party scheduled for April 21

Public Workshops and Launch Party Community Workshops

• 5 across the region • Hosted in Equity Focus Communities in areas with most significant proposed service changes

• Multiple activity stations to gather indepth feedback on proposed service changes, tradeoffs, & preferences CELEBRATORY 50th BIRTHDAY BASH THEME! Demonstrate customer appreciation with party atmosphere: DJ, gold décor, cupcakes, popcorn, candy, goodie bags, face painting, photobooth, and more!

Launch Party! • TheARC in SE D.C. • April 21, 3:00-7:00 p.m.

• Graphic recorder sketching live mural to create visual artifact of workshop feedback • Please mark your calendars and attend if you can!