Keep the 3A and 29W Metrobus routes, residents tell WMATA
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| A sign at the WMATA hearing. |
Eliminating the 3A and 29W bus routes would create hardships for many commuters, local residents told the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority Board at a budget hearing Feb. 23.
One resident of Westlawn said she organizes her life around the 3A bus. She bought her house because it is close to the bus line and uses the 3A to get to work and doctor’s appointments. Another local resident who can’t drive because of a vision impairment said he would have to move if he couldn’t take the 3A and Metro to his job in Washington, D.C.
The 3A and 29W routes, which serve the Annandale area, are among dozens of bus routes proposed for elimination in the WMATA FY 2021 budget.
There isn’t enough parking at the East Falls Church Metro station, so one resident said she takes the 3A to get to Metro and catch a train to D.C.
Related story: Bus riders urged to raise concerns about route cuts at public hearing
The massive redevelopment underway in Tysons has been made possible due to the extension of the Silver Line, funded by taxpayers, the resident told WMATA. As a result, the new businesses and residents drawn to Tysons will have frequent rail service, while the working people who depend on bus service are being left out in the cold.
“We are in the urbanizing eastern corner of the county,” the resident said. “It’s not good enough to have development supported by private shuttles to Metro. County land-use decisions should have a public transit ridership component embedded in the planning.”
Other people talked about how buses help reduce traffic congestion, enable people to get to their jobs, and reduce isolation for people who can’t afford a car or can’t get a driver’s license.
Members of the public can submit comments online until March 2.
The proposed WMATA budget also would reduce some fares for Metrobus and Metrorail, change Metrorail hours, add a 25-cent surcharge for Metrobus riders paying with cash, and make many other changes.
The WMATA board is expected to adopt a budget in March. Changes would take effect on or about July 1.
This is a problem with touting the many bus lines that run through Mason district. WMATA can cut service, or eliminate lines entirely, at any point. The same does not happen with fixed rail transit and other more permanent public transit methods.
Thank you for sharing this. I attended the hearing and there were several people who spoke in defense of keeping the 3A route. Many people who are served by this bus will have no other option for public transportation unless they walk up to two miles in some cases. I hope everyone who depends on this bus will take the time to complete the survey.
This 3A bus has been a mainstay in Annandale for years. How do you expect people to not get into their cars at the same time you are cutting back service. This should be free and frequent so people can rely on it and consider it a viable option. But at the very least it should keep running so people can get to work.