Wisconsin Avenue Line

The Wisconsin Avenue Line, designated as Routes 31 or 33, are daily bus routes operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between the Friendship Heights station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and Potomac Park or Federal Triangle. Both lines operate at 12 minutes frequencies at all times. Route 31 trips are roughly 45 minutes long, while route 33 trips are 55 minutes long.

See also: Pennsylvania Avenue Line (Washington, D.C.)
31, 33
Wisconsin Avenue Line
Route 33 in Friendship Heights
Overview
SystemMetrobus
OperatorWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
GarageWestern
LiveryLocal
StatusIn Service
Began service31: June 29, 2008
33: August 24, 2014
Route
LocaleNorthwest
Communities servedFriendship Heights, McLean Gardens, Georgetown, Tenleytown, Foggy Bottom (31), Potomac Park (31) Federal Triangle (33)
Landmarks servedFriendship Heights station, Tenleytown–AU station, Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown, Foggy Bottom-GWU station (31), Potomac Park (31), McPherson Square station (33), Federal Triangle (33)
StartFriendship Heights station
ViaWisconsin Ave, 23rd Street NW (31), H Street NW (33 to Federal Triangle), I Street NW (33 to Friendship Heights), Pennsylvania Avenue NW
End31 Potomac Park
33: Federal Triangle
Other routes32, 34, 36, 37, 39
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency10 - 12 Minutes (7AM - 9PM)
30 minutes (after 9PM) (33 only)
Operates4:20 AM – 1:50 AM
TransfersSmarTrip only
TimetableWisconsin Avenue Line
← 29N  {{{system_nav}}}  32 →

Background

Routes 31 and 33 operate from Friendship Heights station and Potomac Park (31) or Federal Triangle (33) daily. Their main purpose is to provide service to the upper Northwest side via Wisconsin Avenue NW. The second half of the 30 routes that run along Pennsylvania Avenue into Southeast is provided by routes 32, 34, and 36.

Routes 31 and 33 currently operate out of Western division which utilizes New Flyer D40LFRs, DE40LFAs, and XDE40s.

Route 31 stops

Route 33 stops

History
Main article: Pennsylvania Avenue Line (Washington, D.C.)
Route 31 along Wisconsin Avenue

Along with being one of the most popular bus lines in D.C., the 30 series line is also one of the oldest operating routes in the city, having it incorporated from streetcar lines and the Washington and Georgetown Railroad in the 1860s and ran by buses beginning in 1936. As of 2008, the line has more than 20,000 passengers a day.[1]

The five routes, 30, 32, 34, 35, and 36, begin their journey at Friendship Heights station and end at Potomac Avenue station (30), Southern Avenue station (32), or Naylor Road station (34, 35, and 36). WMATA launched a study on the Pennsylvania Avenue line in 2008 to improve services and to reduce delays and bus bunchings.[1]

Route 31

Route 31 was introduced on June 29, 2008 dubbed as a "neighborhood connector" as part of an overhaul of the busy Pennsylvania Avenue Line. Route 31 connects Friendship Heights station to Potomac Park to provide help to routes 32 and 36 along Wisconsin Avenue and replace routes 30, 34, and 35.[2]

Route 33

As part of proposals from 2013 to simplify the Wisconsin Avenue Line again,[3] route 33 was introduced on August 24, 2014 to replace the 32 and 36 portion along Wisconsin Avenue and to provide extra service to the 31, and the newly introduced Friendship Heights–Southeast Line or routes 30N and 30S. Route 33 provides more service between Friendship Heights station and Federal Triangle to help out the 30N, 30S, and 31. Routes 32 and 36 were shorten to Potomac Park being replaced by routes 30N, 30S, 31, and 33.[4][5]

Changes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, routes 31 and 33 operated on their Saturday supplemental schedule during the weekdays beginning on March 16, 2020.[6] On March 18, 2020, the line was further reduced to operate on its Sunday schedule.[7] Weekend service was later suspended on March 21, 2020 being replaced by Routes 30N and 30S.[8] On August 23, 2020, routes 31 and 33 restored its regular schedule but Route 31 weekend service was suspended being replaced by Route 33.[9]

On September 26, 2020, WMATA proposed to eliminate all route 31 weekend service and add route 33 trips due to low federal funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Weekday service will not change.[10]

On September 5, 2021, the line was increased to operate every 12 minutes daily.[11]

References
  1. "Major improvements planned for Metro's most popular bus line" (Press release). WMATA. February 14, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  2. "Metro launches major overhaul of 30s Metrobus line" (Press release). WMATA. June 26, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  3. "Improving bus service on the 30s line (Routes 31, 32, 34, and 36)". Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  4. "Metrobus service changes effective August 24 include more trips to improve reliability, reduce crowding" (Press release). WMATA. August 15, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  5. "Metrobus service changes effective August 24". WUSA. August 18, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  6. "Metro announces additional COVID-19 changes, including reduced service beginning Monday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  7. "METRO SERVICE LEVELS & HOURS FURTHER REDUCED TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY, STARTING WEDNESDAY | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. "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 January 31, 2021.
  9. "Metrobus Service Changes beginning August 23 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. "Proposed Service Adjustments by Jurisdiction" (PDF). Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  11. "Improved frequency and changes to Metrobus service begin Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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