Greenbelt–New Carrollton Express Line
The Greenbelt–New Carrollton Express Line, designated as Routes R11, R15, was an express bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Beltway Plaza Mall or Greenbelt Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and New Carrollton station of the Orange Line of the Washington Metro. The line operated during peak hours only providing express service between Greenbelt and New Carrollton. The route was discontinued in 1993 in favored for routes C2, R12, T16, and T17.
| R11, R15 | |
|---|---|
| Greenbelt–New Carrollton Express Line | |
 | |
| Overview | |
| System | Metrobus |
| Operator | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
| Garage | Landover |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Began service | 1978 |
| Ended service | 1993 |
| Predecessors | T15, T16, T17 |
| Route | |
| Locale | Prince George's County |
| Communities served | Greenbelt, New Carrollton |
| Landmarks served | Beltway Plaza Mall, Greenbelt Center, New Carrollton station |
| Start | R11: Beltway Plaza Mall R15: Greenbelt Center |
| Via | Greenbelt Road, Cherrywood Lane, Kenilworth Avenue, the Capital Beltway, and John Hanson Highway. |
| End | New Carrollton station |
History
In 1963, routes R11 and R15 were apart of the Kenilworth Avenue Express Line along with routes R12, R13, and R14 as streetcar routes. Route R11 and R15 operated between Farragut Square in Downtown D.C. and Springhill Lake Apartment Complex during weekday peak hours only. Route R12 operated between Farragut Square and Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt weekdays only, and between Federal Triangle and Beltway Plaza Mall on Saturdays only while routes R13 & R14 operating between Southwest D.C. & the Macke Industrial Park Complex.[1]
In 1973, all routes were converted into Metrobus Routes when WMATA took over all of the streetcar companies that operated throughout the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area and merged them all into its "Metrobus" System[2] keeping their exact same routing as their streetcar lines.
1977 Changes
Routes R11, R12, and R15 were shorten to operate up to Stadium–Armory station discontinuing service to Farragut Square. Routes R13 and R14 were also discontinued in the process while routes R11 and R15 added early Saturday morning service prior to Metro's opening.[1]
On September 26, 1977, early Saturday morning service on routes R11 & R15's were discontinued, due to new early Metro service being introduced during earlier times on Saturday mornings.[3] Weekday peak hour service was not changed.
1978 Changes
On December 3, 1978, routes R11 and R15 were rerouted to operate as a brand new express route between Beltway Plaza Mall (R11)/Greenbelt Center (R15) and New Carrollton station, running primarily along via Greenbelt Road, Cherrywood Lane, Kenilworth Avenue, the Capital Beltway, and John Hanson Highway.[4] The line was separated from the Kenilworth Avenue Line and renamed as the "Greenbelt–New Carrollton Express Line" providing express service between Greenbelt and New Carrollton station. Local service was provided by routes F6, and T16, and T17.
Discontinuation of Line
On December 11, 1993, routes R11 and R15 were discontinued and replaced with routes C2, R12, T15, T16, and T17 effectively discontinuing the Greenbelt–New Carrollton Express Line and ending express service between Greenbelt and New Carrollton. Route R12 was extended to both Greenbelt station and New Carrollton station from Beltway Plaza replacing routes R11 and R15 while routes T15, T16, and T17 operated between Greenbelt and New Carrollton stations replacing parts of routes R11 and R15.[5][6]
Reincarnation of Route R11
On December 19, 2010. route R11 was reincarnated to operate alongside route R12 in the Kenilworth Avenue Line operating between Deanwood station and Greenbelt station. However route R11 would only operate during early morning peak hours before 7:45 am and would skip the Beltway Plaza Mall loop.[7][8]
Discontinuation
On August 23, 2015, route R11 was discontinued and replaced by route R12. Route R12 would still skip Beltway Plaza Mall loop before 7:45 AM on weekdays only absorbing the R11.
References
- Jones, Mike (July 14, 1977). "Greenbelt Bus Routes Change to Synchronize with Metro" (PDF). Greenbelt News Review. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- "WMATA History" (PDF). WMATA History. 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Feaver, Douglas (September 21, 1978). "Metrobus Routes Change as Subway Service Increases". Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Feaver, Douglas (November 30, 1978). "Bus Routes Change Sunday to Link With Orange Line". Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Pierre, Robert (December 9, 1993). "Metro Shuffling Its Bus Schedule". Washington Post. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- "June Public Hearings to Be Held On Major Changes to Bus Routes" (PDF). Greenbelt News Review. June 10, 1993. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- "WMATA Releases New Bus Schedules". Greenbelt, MD Patch. 9 December 2010.
- "Maryland to get enhanced Metrobus service". WMATA. Retrieved 15 April 2020.