The Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved the first major overhaul of the entire Metrobus system on Thursday.
The Better Bus Network Redesign project aims to make bus service more efficient and convenient, according to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority news release. But some College Park community members worry the overhaul’s changes, including eliminating the C8 bus route — which goes from North Bethesda to College Park — will negatively impact the city.
WMATA board member Don Drummer said at Thursday’s board meeting that the new network “addresses inequities and increases access to opportunities for underserved communities.”
The final proposal increases the number of frequent service routes in the network from 37 to 48. The project will provide about 20,000 more residents with access to weekend bus service.
The new network has the potential to add nearly 13,000 weekday trips daily while also reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 4,300 metric tons, according to WMATA documents.
The project will eliminate about 510 Metrobus stops that were located too close to adjacent stops, the documents said.
The C8 route, which would be removed under the project, is the only public transportation option to The National Archives and Records Administration building in College Park, according to city documents. Nearly 30,000 researchers visit the building annually, the documents said.
William Bosanko, the deputy archivist of the United States, sent a letter to College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir in October asking for the city’s help to preserve the C8 route. The College Park City Council approved sending a letter urging WMATA officials and state lawmakers to keep the route on Tuesday.
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Kabir’s letter said the city “strongly opposes” eliminating the C8 route.
“From the city’s side, it is our duty to support them in asking WMATA to restore bus service,” Kabir said. “It is really concerning because the archives is one of our top employers.”
Preserving the C8 route also aligns with College Park’s broader sustainability goals of providing accessible alternative transportation throughout the city, Kabir said.
Prince George’s County resident Joel Ryerson expressed concerns about the C8’s removal in his public comment at Thursday’s meeting.
Ryerson said cutting the route would negatively impact the communities that rely on the C8.
“I use that bus everyday going to work,” Ryerson said. “I’m not too pleased and too happy and my neighbor is not going to be too happy either.”
Without the C8 route, the agency will direct riders to two new routes — the M42 and M44 routes, according to WMATA documents. These routes go from Randolph Road to College Park and Randolph Road to Hyattsville Crossing respectively, the documents said.
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In a summary of WMATA’s community feedback on the project, many riders expressed concerns about losing service to key areas covered by the existing C8 route that would not be addressed with the alternative routes.
The replacement routes will not service the section of Adelphi Road between Riggs Road and University Boulevard, which includes the archives building annex and the University of Maryland golf course, WMATA maps showed.
The ridership in that portion of the route is low, and continuing to serve the section would cause WMATA to spend significant money for a low return and take funds from areas needing more improvement.
WMATA intends to launch the new bus network in June 2025. Until then, the agency will educate riders on the changes, rewrite bus schedules, update bus route signage and focus on other implementation measures, according to its website.
