Community Corner

City Council Supports Improvements to Metrobus Bowie Lines

City staff hopes to see more frequent trips to the New Carrollton Metro Station and improved bus stop amenities implemented in Bowie by WMATA.

More frequent trips to the Metro and improved bus stop amenities are but a few of the suggested improvements that the Bowie City Council is urging WMATA to go forward with to improve access to public transportation in the city. 

The improvements are part of the recommendations that came out of a recent study on the city's public transportation use and access. WMATA held public meetings on in Bowie back in March to receive feedback from local residents on the B Lines, which serve the city from the Bowie Town Center north. 

The feedback was used in part to generate the list of improvements and other recommendations to bus service in Bowie. 

"Essentially the studies were comparing service improvements and the costs associated with those improvements," Joe Minhert, City of Bowie Planning Director, said in the city council meeting last week. 

City staff evaluated WMATA's recommendation and prioritized them, giving a higher priority to the improvements that were low in cost and that improved services or amenities on the bus lines. 

The hub and spoke service restructuring was of particular interest to city staff, as it represented a new way of providing access to public transit within the city. 

As part of this proposal Northview park and ride would serve as a hub for all the lines that provide service within the city, and provide more frequent service to and from the New Carrollton Metro Station, with service about every 15 minutes during peak hours, according to Minhert. 

"It would create a much more accessible transit system for the residents of Bowie," Minhert said.

The city's own consultant recommended this service improvement back in 2006, Minhert said. The recommendation involves adding additional buses and would also increase WMATA's annual operating costs of bus services in Bowie. 

"We feel it would be more cost efficient in terms of providing more regular service to our residents," Minhert said. 

"The timing is right for WMATA to commit to improving transit service in Bowie," he added. 

Improving traffic direction, consolidating bus stops and improving bus stops were also recommended as a high priority by city staff, as they cost little to nothing to implement. 

The city council is sending a letter in support of these and other improvements to WMATA provided public transportation, though it is unclear how WMATA would fund these improvements. 

WMATA is has also recommended cutting some service on the B Lines, particularly in Crofton, due to low ridership and problems with reliability, reported Crofton Patch. 

There will be public hearings to discuss the proposed changes to Metro bus routes between September 16 and 19. The full schedule is available on Metro's Website. 


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