Bus Service Upgrades Would Put More Seats On Busy Lines, Cut Others

Metrorail and bus riders would see no fare increases next year under a $1.1 billion spending plan proposed yesterday by transit managers, but local governments would pay 5.9 percent higher subsidies to help run the region’s public transportation system.
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He proposed eliminating or scaling back a number of bus routes with low ridership to save more than $2.4 million, which would be invested in improving service on major routes.

For instance, White proposed eliminating the W9 Defense Facilities Shuttle in the District’s Southeast. In 2004, the shuttle carried an average of four passengers a trip. White also suggested ending bus service after midnight on weekends on more than two dozen routes.

The savings yielded by those changes would be used to add service on several routes that have been particular targets of rider complaints.

For example, Metro would increase service on the S2 and S4 lines along 16th Street, where buses average 42 passengers a trip, in an attempt to ensure that passengers have shorter waits at bus stops.

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