79
Georgia Avenue Limited Line
Route 79
Overview
SystemMetrobus
OperatorWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
GarageMontgomery (Daily)
Bladensburg (Select Rush Hour Trips Only)
LiveryMetroExtra
StatusIn Service
Began serviceMarch 19, 2007
Route
LocaleNorthwest, Montgomery County
Communities servedSilver Spring, Maryland, Shepherd Park, Brightwood, Petworth, Park View, Shaw, Mount Vernon Square, Chinatown, Archives, Downtown
Landmarks servedSilver Spring station, Shepherd Park, Butternut/Aspen Streets, Piney Branch, Brightwood, Kennedy Street, Decatur Street, Georgia Avenue–Petworth station, Columbia/Irving, Howard University, Florida Avenue, Shaw–Howard University station, Mount Vernon Square station, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, H Street, Gallery Place station, Capital One Arena, Archives station
StartSilver Spring station
ViaGeorgia Avenue NW, 7th Street NW
EndArchives station
Other routes70 Georgia Av/7th Street Local
74 7th Street South
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency10-15 minutes
Operates6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Ridership1,233,399 (2022)
TransfersSmarTrip only
TimetableGeorgia Avenue MetroExtra Line
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The Georgia Avenue Limited Line, designated as Route 79, is a daily bus route that is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and Archives station of the Green and Yellow lines of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 10–12 minutes at all times. Trips are roughly 50 minutes. This line provides additional express service for route 70 daily between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM, serving select stops along Georgia Avenue.[1]

Current Route

Route 79 operates between Silver Spring station and Archives station providing limited stop service along Georgia Avenue.[2] Routes 79 and S9 are the only MetroExtra routes to have full-time service with all other MetroExtra routes operating only during weekday or weekday peak periods. It is also one of the few Metrobus routes with dedicated bus lanes.[3] Route 79 operates out of Montgomery division but has some trips out of Bladensburg division during rush hours.

Route 79 Stops

History

Prior to route 79, the only express route that operated along Georgia Avenue was the Brightwood Express Line under route 73. Route 73 was the main express route operating along Georgia Avenue running between Silver Spring station and Archives station only supplementing routes 70 and 71 as they run local routes. However, in 2000, route 73 was discontinued and replaced by routes 70 and 71.

New Route 79

In response to growing demand along Georgia Avenue plus to reduce overcrowding on routes 70 and 71, WMATA launched route 79 under their new MetroExtra brand on March 19, 2007 as a limited stop express service providing service on high ridership lines. Route 79 was the first MetroExtra route introduced by WMATA which operates between Silver Spring station and Archives station during weekday peak-hours only.[4] The new route will only serve 16 stops northbound and 15 stops southbound.[5]

The original run of route 79 used the 2007 New Flyer C40LFRs out of Bladensburg division.[6] Although, route 79 started using other buses throughout the years, when the C40LFRs undergoes maintenance. Today, route 79 can be found mostly using any type of Metrobus.

Changes

On September 25, 2011, new midday service was added to route 79 which operates every 10-12 minutes.[7]

On March 24, 2013, new Saturday service was added to route 79. The line will operate every 15 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. only.[8]

On December 29, 2013, new Sunday service was added to route 79 also operating between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. operating every 15 minutes.[9]

In 2018, WMATA began experiencing "cashless" payment on buses as part of a plot to speed up travel time. One of the routes that will work for the plot was route 79.[10][11]

During WMATA's FY2021 budget year proposal, WMATA proposed to raise the MetroExtra fare from $2.00 to $3.00 at all times.[12] However, WMATA also proposed to operate route 79 up to 10:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. daily.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the line was reduced to operate on its Saturday supplemental schedule during the weekdays beginning on March 16, 2020.[13] On March 18, 2020, the line was further reduced to operate on its Sunday schedule.[14] On March 21, 2020, weekend service was also suspended and replaced by the 70.[15]

On August 23, 2020, southbound route 79 service was rerouted to operate along 7th street instead of 9th street in order to streamline service. Weekend service was also restored.[16]

Cash Free Plot

On June 24, 2018, route 79 began a six-month cash free plot for WMATA. According to WMATA, route 79 was selected for the plot due to its proximity to retail stores and Metrorail stations to purchase or load SmarTrip cards, as well as alternative bus service for cash-paying riders.[17][18] Passenger wishing to pay with cash would have to ride the local route 70 instead.

Controversy

The plot had passengers worried overall. Non SmarTrip riders will lose access to one of the most heavily used bus lines in the system.[19] WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld stated:

It is something that’s a trend within the industry, but we want to see how that plays out here in our community.

DC Councilmember David Grosso sent a letter to WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, urging him to consider the implications of cashless bus service stating:[20]

As this policy seeks to push cash users to utilize a SmarTrip, it will lengthen their commutes because it will be difficult and potentially expensive to find and use a SmartTrip machine unless they happen to live, work, or go to school near a Metrorail station or WMATA retail partner. This is particularly concerning for residents in Wards 7 and 8, where only 3 non-Metrorail station sales locations exist.

Metro also asked the public's feedback on cashless payment and can be expanded onto other MetroExtra routes and future limited stop routes.[21][22] However, riders are not in favor of the cashless experiment. Metro Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair Phil Posner told the Metro Board in an WTOP interview:[19]

Cash-free buses are something we have always worried about for the disability community and the underserved community, because there is a group that doesn’t have access to anything but cash — do not have credit cards, do not have bank accounts, do not have checking accounts. The 79 express makes 16 stops... the alternate route, the 70, makes 49 stops. Make a decision that has a little heart to it for the people, the large population, that doesn’t have it, because this is a pilot that’s going to affect everything from Columbia Pike throughout the entire system, and I think that’s really important to take into account.

Maryland Metro Board Member Michael Goldman also said:[19]

Let’s see what the experiment shows, but we obviously have problems not just on bus but on rail with individuals entering the system and not paying. So let’s see what happens on the bus side and see if, on balance, this produces more benefits in terms of shorter stops at bus stops and a shorter ride for our passengers than... whatever revenue might be lost by allowing a few riders to travel for free.

The Metro Board took in all surveys by November 2018 and will consider if they should extend the cashless payment.[23]

In December 2018, WMATA announced that the cashless payment plot will be extended for another six months on route 79 with a full permanent adoption being decided in 2019.[24] In May 2019, WMATA announced that the cashless payment plot will end on June 23, 2019. Regular fares will still be applied to the route.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Malouff, Dan. "Five bus lines everyone in DC should know, love, and use". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. ↑ Reed, Dan (28 August 2017). "What DC's Most Popular Route Can Tell Us About Our City". Washingtonian. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Sturdivant, Christina. "DDOT Enforces Dedicated Bus Lanes On Georgia Avenue". DCist. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "New MetroExtra provides faster Metrobus service along Georgia Avenue" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 19, 2007. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ "79 Georgia Avenue Limited Line" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "WMATA Metrobus New Flyer C40LF & C40LFR Buses". Oren's Transit Page. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "Metro to adjust select bus routes in DC, Virginia". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes, Effective March 24, 2013". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ "December 29, 2013 Service Changes". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  10. ↑ "WMATA to test cashless payment on express bus". TheTransitWire.com. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  11. ↑ Powers, Martine. "Metro wants bus trips to be faster, and getting rid of cash may be the answer". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Balancing the Next Metro Budget to Reflect Your Priorities | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Metro announces additional COVID-19 changes, including reduced service beginning Monday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. ↑ "METRO SERVICE LEVELS & HOURS FURTHER REDUCED TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY, STARTING WEDNESDAY | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Weekend: Metro service limited to 26 bus routes, reduced rail service; expect wait times of 30 minutes; customers urged to travel only if essential | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "August 2020 Metrobus Service Changes, August 23 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Route 79 MetroExtra goes cash-free | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes, June 24 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 Smith, Max (29 May 2018). "Metro's cash-free bus pilot aims to speed up trips, but some riders worried". WTOP. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Councilmember Grosso urges WMATA to consider the implications of cashless bus service". Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  21. ↑ Giambrone, Andrew (10 September 2018). "Do you support cashless buses? Metro wants to know". Curbed DC. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  22. ↑ Kurzius, Rachel. "Metro Mulls More Cashless Bus Routes". DCist. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  23. ↑ "What do you think about limited-stop bus service going cash-free? | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  24. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes, December 30 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  25. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes Beginning Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, June 23, 2019 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
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