Forestville Line

The Forestville Line, designated as Route K12, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Suitland station and Branch Avenue station of the Green Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 15–45 minutes during weekdays and 60 minutes during weekends. Trips are roughly 30–40 minutes long. There are a few early morning/late night and rush hour trips that only operate between the Suitland Metro Station & Penn Mar Shopping Center.

K12
Forestville Line
Overview
System	Metrobus
Operator	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Garage	Andrews Federal Center
Livery	Local
Status	In Service
Began service	1963
Ended service	K11, K13 (June 26, 2016), K19 (January 13, 2001)
Route
Locale	Prince George's County, MD
Communities served	Suitland, District Heights, Forestville, Morningside, Andrews Manor
Landmarks served	Branch Avenue station, Auth Road, Andrews Manor, Joint Base Andrews, Forest Village, Forestville, Centre at Forestville, Penn Mar Shopping Center, Park Berkshire, Surrey Square, Suitland station
Start	Branch Avenue station (regular K12 trips) Penn Mar Shopping Center (shortened K12 trips)
Via	Allentown Road, Silver Hill Road, Forestville Road
End	Suitland station
Length	30-40 minutes
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	15 to 45 minutes
Weekend frequency	60 minutes
Operates	5:10 am - 12:27 am (Monday-Friday) 5:50 AM - 10:40 PM (Saturday) 6:50 AM - 10:40 PM (Sunday)
Transfers	SmarTrip only
Timetable	Forestville Line
Route map ← K9  {{{system_nav}}}  L1 →

Background

Route K12 operates between Branch Avenue and Suitland Stations via Penn Marr Shopping Center. Some trips are shortened to operate between Penn Marr and Suitland. Route K12 operates out of Andrews Federal Center garage since 2019. Prior to moving to Andrews, K12 operated from Southern Avenue until 1989 when it was moved to Landover division.[1].

History

Initial Background

K12 & K19 were initially created as new bus routes in 1963, to operate between Federal Triangle in Downtown Washington D.C. & Andrews Air Force Base Gates in Camp Springs, MD, via 11th Street NW, E Street NW, 10th Street NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 7th Street SW, Independence Avenue SW/SE, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Pennsylvania Avenue, Shadyside Avenue, Suitland Road, Silver Hill Road, Pennsylvania Avenue, Parkland Drive, Surrey Service Drive, the Park Berkshire Apartment Complex, Hil Mar Drive, Walters Lane, Forestville Road, and Allentown Road. Both routes eventually became WMATA Metrobus Routes on February 4, 1973 when WMATA acquired all four private bus companies that were operating throughout the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area and merged them all together to form its own, "Metrobus" System.[2]

Both routes were rerouted to serve Potomac Avenue & Eastern Market stations in the middle of their routes on July 15, 1977.

1978 Service Changes

On September 25, 1978, both routes K12 & K19 were truncated to Potomac Avenue station only eliminating service to Downtown DC.[3]

2001 Service Changes

On January 13, 2001 when the Green Line was extended to Branch Avenue and both the Suitland and Branch Avenue stations opened, route K19 was eliminated K12 was truncated even further, to only operate between Suitland and Branch Avenue stations, via Andrews Air Force Base.[4][5][6]

A new route K11 replaced the segment of the former route K12 & K19's routing between Potomac Avenue Metro Station and the intersection of Suitland Road & Silver Hill Road operating parallel to route K12.[5] Unlike route K12, route K11 would not serve Suitland station and operated during times the Green Line is not operating. [6]

Another new route, the K13 was also introduced to operate on select rush hour trips between Suitland Metro Station & Penn Mar Shopping Center.[5][6]

2004 Service Changes

Due to the planned closure by the management of the Park Berkshire Apartments roadway that connects with Hil Mar Drive on June 27, 2004, routes K11, K12 & K13 were rerouted to operate to Suitland station, via their regular routing between the intersection of Walters Lane & Pennsylvania Avenue and intersection Hil Mar Drive & Park Berkshire roadway.[7] All K11 & K12 trips to the Branch Avenue station as well as the K13 routes were also rerouted to follow the exact same routing, except in the exact opposite direction.

2016 Service Changes

On June 26, 2016, route K11 was discontinued and replaced by K12.[8] This and the J11 were the last one morning trips that operate prior to Metro opening heading to Potomac Avenue station.

2018 Service Changes

On June 24, 2018, route K13 was discontinued and replaced by Route K12.[9] Route K13 shortened trips between Suitland Metro Station & Penn Mar Shopping Center, were replaced by rush hour K12 trips as of a result. Route K12 was also rerouted to operate via Donnell Drive, Marlboro Pike, and Forestville Road between Pennsylvania Avenue & Donnell Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue & Forestville Road but no longer stop on Command Drive at Allentown Road (Joint Base Andrews West Gate).

References

1. "Re: WMATA Roster Project (WRP) Info and Roster (60166)". talk.nycsubway.org. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
2. "WASHINGTON DC TRANSIT ROUTES". www.chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
3. Feaver, Douglas (1978-09-21). "Metrobus Routes Change as Subway Service Increases". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
4. "Metrorail Branch Avenue Route Completion". www.roadstothefuture.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
5. "Re: WMATA Roster Project (WRP) Info and Roster (60166)". talk.nycsubway.org. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
6. "Metrobus service changes effective January 13, 2001 Maryland". February 10, 2001. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
7. "Metro News Release | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
8. "Metrobus service changes effective June 26 to simplify routes, improve reliability | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
9. "Metrobus Service Changes, June 24". Retrieved 7 November 2019.