Wisconsin Avenue Line

31, 33
Wisconsin Avenue Line
Route 33 in Friendship Heights
Overview
System	Metrobus
Operator	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Garage	Western
Livery	Local
Status	In Service
Began service	31: June 29, 2008 33: August 24, 2014
Route
Locale	Northwest (Washington, D.C.)
Communities served	Friendship Heights, McLean Gardens, Georgetown, Tenleytown, Foggy Bottom (31), Potomac Park (31) Federal Triangle (33)
Landmarks served	Friendship Heights station, Tenleytown–AU station, Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown, Foggy Bottom-GWU station (31) Potomac Park (31), Federal Triangle (33), McPherson Square station (33)
Start	Friendship Heights station
Via	Wisconsin Ave, 23rd Street, H Street (to Federal Triangle), I Street (to Friendship Heights), Pennsylvania Avenue
End	31 Potomac Park 33: Federal Triangle
Other routes	30N, 30S
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	10–40 Minutes
Operates	Weekdays: 5:00 AM – 11:52 PM Saturday: 5:43 AM – 12:40 AM Sunday: 5:26 AM – 9:37 PM
Transfers	SmarTrip only
Timetable	Wisconsin Avenue Line
Route map ← 30S  {{{system_nav}}}  32 →

The Wisconsin Avenue Line, designated as Routes 31 or 33, are daily bus routes operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between the Friendship Heights Metro station and Potomac Park or Federal Triangle. Both lines operate every 10–30 minutes at all times. Route 31 trips are roughly 45 minutes long, while route 33 trips are 55 minutes long. These routes dubbed as the Neighborhood Connectors supplement routes 30N and 30S between Friendship Heights and Potomac Park/Federal Triangle.

Background

Routes 31 and 33 operate from Friendship Heights station and Potomac Park (31) or Federal Triangle (33) daily. Their main purpose is to provide extra service to routes 30N and 30S which run every hour along the Wisconsin Avenue side. The second half of routes 30N and 30S are run along Pennsylvania Avenue by routes 32, 34, and 36.

Routes 31 and 33 currently operate out of Western division which utilizes New Flyer D40LFRs, DE40LFAs, and XDE40s.

History

Main article: Pennsylvania Avenue Line (Washington, D.C.)

Route 31 along Wisconsin Avenue

Along with being one of the most popular bus lines in D.C., the 30 series line is also one of the oldest operating routes in the city, having it incorporated from streetcar lines and the Washington and Georgetown Railroad in the 1860s and ran by buses beginning in 1936. As of 2008, the line has more than 20,000 passengers a day.

The five routes, 30, 32, 34, 35, and 36, begin their journey at Friendship Heights station and end at Potomac Avenue station (30), Southern Avenue station (32), or Naylor Road station (34, 35, and 36). WMATA launched a study on the Pennsylvania Avenue line in 2008 to improve services and to reduce delays and bus bunchings.

Route 31

Route 31 was introduced on June 29, 2008 dubbed as a "neighborhood connector" as part of an overhaul of the busy Pennsylvania Avenue Line. Route 31 connects Friendship Heights station to Potomac Park to provide help to routes 32 and 36 along Wisconsin Avenue and replace routes 30, 34, and 35.

Route 33

As part of proposals from 2013 to simplify the Wisconsin Avenue Line again, route 33 was introduced on August 24, 2014 to replace the 32 and 36 portion along Wisconsin Avenue and to provide extra service to the 31, and the newly introduced Friendship Heights–Southeast Line or routes 30N and 30S. Route 33 provides more service between Friendship Heights station and Federal Triangle to help out the 30N, 30S, and 31. Routes 32 and 36 were shorten to Potomac Park being replaced by routes 30N, 30S, 31, and 33.