Say Goodbye to Confusing Routes in Washington, DC With WMATA’s Better Bus Initiatives

A new bus system is on its way to Washington, DC. The Better Bus initiative, announced by WMATA last spring, aims to overhaul current Metrobus routes to improve wait times and simplify route names.

The final plan was released on Monday, with the new system expected to roll out in summer 2025. Here’s a quick look at the changes:

Fewer Bus Stops for Faster Service

WMATA plans to remove around 500 stops. Most of these stops are very close to others—within 660 feet—and have low ridership or lack safe pedestrian access. By reducing the number of stops, WMATA aims to make bus travel faster and more reliable.

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New Route Names and Redesigned Routes

Under the Better Bus program, all routes will be renamed and redesigned. Many existing routes, like the G2 and C26, will have new versions with updated names. Each route will now have a clearer naming system: the first letter shows the area (e.g., “D” for DC, “P” for Prince George’s County), while numbers help indicate neighborhoods and routes.

WMATA will also absorb the routes currently run by Prince George’s County’s TheBus, bringing them into the Metro system. They hope other local transit systems will adopt this new naming approach to make the system easier to navigate.

To check your new route, you can find updated route maps for DC, Virginia, and Maryland on the Better Bus website.