You may have noticed new Metrobus signs have gone up all around Arlington and throughout the DMV region, this is because the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is preparing for the Better Bus Network Redesign which launches Sunday, June 29, 2025. The redesign is meant to enhance service by increasing efficiency and is the first comprehensive upgrade to Metrobus service in its entire 50-year history! Luckily, Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) has compiled resources you’ll need to prepare for your commute when utilizing the new and improved system this summer.
This summer when riding Metrobus you’ll find that every route has a new name. The new naming convention is intended to simplify route names by correlating the route with the area served. Routes serving Arlington and Alexandria will start with ‘A’. Routes in DC will either start with a ‘C’ for ‘Crosstown’ or a ‘D’ for ‘Downtown’. Routes beginning with ‘F’ run in Fairfax City, Fairfax County, and Falls Church. Routes in Prince George’s County start with ‘P’. Additionally, routes with an ‘X’ signify a limited-stop route.
WMATA’s Trip Planner will help you find your new route in no time! Simply plug in your starting location, desired destination, and ensure you’ve chosen a date after June 28. Once you click “plan my trip”, the tool will show you a few itineraries you can take, the new route names, and the location of the stops. It’s important to note that some stops will no longer be serviced by Metrobus to increase the efficiency and reliability of the system. While the new routes will largely resemble the system’s current coverage, you’ll want to double check the location of the stop the planner encourages you to use since your “usual stop” could be affected by this change. You can also review this list with all the stops Metrobus will no longer service within the DMV.
While the trip planner will help you get from point A to point B, you may want to bookmark, print, or download WMATA’s Virginia Metrobus Map which shows bus services in Virginia including ART, Fairfax Connector, DASH, the City of Fairfax CUE Bus, as well as the new Metrobus routes. If you want the map for a specific route, WMATA has those too!
In addition to the resources listed, ATP is hosting a webinar in collaboration with our partners at WMATA to help employers and employees prepare for the upcoming changes to Metrobus. Join us July 8 at 11 AM to learn about the new system, prepare to navigate it, and ask questions.