By Erin Fitzgerald
Metro has begun service on the new 74 bus route that connects Southwest to the Convention Center. The service is meant to replace the service lost by ending the Circulator service that connected the Waterfront to the Convention Center.
The 74 bus route began on Sept. 25. The Convention Center-Southwest Waterfront route ended Oct. 3. With the addition of the 74 route comes the shortening of the 70 route. That bus, which previously ran from Silver Spring to Southwest,
will now run from Silver Spring to Archives and will not continue on to Southwest. On weekdays the 74 bus will run on a loop and have stops at Half and O streets, SW; V and Second streets, SW at Buzzard Point; Seventh and E streets, SW at L’Enfant Plaza; Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; and K and Sixth streets, NW. Not every bus will stop at V and Second streets, SW (Buzzard Point). Those which do will read “Buzzard Point-Convention Center” on the front bus sign, those which don’t will read “Half & O SW-Convention Center.”
Weekday buses will run on average every 18 minutes during rush-hour. Weekend service will not include a stop at V and Second streets, SW (Buzzard Point) and will run on average every 24 minutes. The route will run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The end of the Convention Center-Southwest Waterfront Circulator route means bus patrons will no longer have the option of a $1 bus toward the Convention Center. The 74 route will be cost the standard Metrobus fare: $1.50 for SmarTrip users, $1.70 with cash, 75 cents for seniors using SmarTrip, 85 cents for seniors using cash and 75 cents for those with disabilities using SmarTrip or cash.
With the elimination of Southwest’s Circulator route comes additional changes for the Circulator system. A new route has been added east of the Anacostia River. The first Circulator route east of the river runs from the Potomac Ave Metro Station to Skyland via Eighth Street, SE. In addition the Circulator route from Georgetown to Union Station will see some eliminated and consolidated stops, along with one added stop.
For Southeast residents using the Union-Station Navy Yard line, a change in route will begin Monday, Oct. 3. Buses will no longer stop at the Union Station garage level or at stops on Louisiana and D streets, NE. Buses will now stop on Columbus Circle at the flag poles prior to turning right on F Street. NE. For details on changes visit www.wmata.com
and www.dccirculator.com.